thecivilengineer
Active Member
There should be permanent Ferris wheel.
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Unbuilt Projects
- Thread starter Surrealplaces
- Start date
Very cool. Wonder why south is up in that site plan, though. Confused me at first.
Mountain Man
Senior Member
Probably to match the orientation of the render, which is looking south from the River.
FCC1982
Senior Member
Copying this post from another thread for the record - “The Exchange”:
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FCC1982
Senior Member
Has anyone visited the "Calgary Story" area at the south end of the 4th Floor at the Central Library ?
If you haven't, I highly encourage you to do so.
I went searching for a book I knew existed called "Opportunity In Calgary" from 1981 (Call No. 330.9712338.OPP) and stumbled upon a treasure-trove of information related to all things we love as skyscraper/urban development geeks.
Of particular interest to me were publications called "Calgary In The News" from 1978 - 1985 (10 Volumes all under Call No. 330.9712338.CAL) - a few were missing from the library's collection unfortunately.
It was fascinating to review all the news stories of Calgary's (and my own) "coming of age" period and re-live the excitement of that time. I was a pre-teen/early teen at the time with an unsatiable passion for skyscrapers and the city of Calgary. Needless to say it was a great time to be living here for myself.
Calgary was growing fast with the oil fueled BOOM like no other. It seemed everyone was rushing here to be part of it (Canadian, US & International) -- Banks, Airlines, Manufacturers, Film Studios, Luxury Car Dealers, Head Offices, and of course - Developers. They could literally not build office space fast enough to satisfy the demand. In 1978 a 25-30 storey tower was considered a Huge development. By 1979-80 multi-million dollar complexes of 50 storeys and more were being proposed on a weekly basis it seemed. In the fall of 1980 the Pierre Trudeau government introduced the National Energy Program (NEP) and the winds of change were in the air. By the second half of 1982 everything came crashing down as quickly as it had built up and proposed developments were shelved and construction sites abandoned.
In the end (i.e. today) Calgary ended up with a great skyline including projects that were built long after the early '80s Boom (Brookfield Place, Telus Sky, The Bow, Eighth Ave. Place, etc.). But looking back, there are definitely some projects from that era that I longingly wish had made it through construction (First Canadian Centre (BMO) 2nd tower, Cascade/McIntyre Plaza, Alberta 75 Place, Bay Park Plaza, Bankers Hall (original version). Would have to move sites for some of these as I want the towers that eventually went up on some of these sites as well - "I want it all damnit!".
I'll include some of the articles and photos I found in the coming posts below related to "Unbuilt" projects - I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
If you haven't, I highly encourage you to do so.
I went searching for a book I knew existed called "Opportunity In Calgary" from 1981 (Call No. 330.9712338.OPP) and stumbled upon a treasure-trove of information related to all things we love as skyscraper/urban development geeks.
Of particular interest to me were publications called "Calgary In The News" from 1978 - 1985 (10 Volumes all under Call No. 330.9712338.CAL) - a few were missing from the library's collection unfortunately.
It was fascinating to review all the news stories of Calgary's (and my own) "coming of age" period and re-live the excitement of that time. I was a pre-teen/early teen at the time with an unsatiable passion for skyscrapers and the city of Calgary. Needless to say it was a great time to be living here for myself.
Calgary was growing fast with the oil fueled BOOM like no other. It seemed everyone was rushing here to be part of it (Canadian, US & International) -- Banks, Airlines, Manufacturers, Film Studios, Luxury Car Dealers, Head Offices, and of course - Developers. They could literally not build office space fast enough to satisfy the demand. In 1978 a 25-30 storey tower was considered a Huge development. By 1979-80 multi-million dollar complexes of 50 storeys and more were being proposed on a weekly basis it seemed. In the fall of 1980 the Pierre Trudeau government introduced the National Energy Program (NEP) and the winds of change were in the air. By the second half of 1982 everything came crashing down as quickly as it had built up and proposed developments were shelved and construction sites abandoned.
In the end (i.e. today) Calgary ended up with a great skyline including projects that were built long after the early '80s Boom (Brookfield Place, Telus Sky, The Bow, Eighth Ave. Place, etc.). But looking back, there are definitely some projects from that era that I longingly wish had made it through construction (First Canadian Centre (BMO) 2nd tower, Cascade/McIntyre Plaza, Alberta 75 Place, Bay Park Plaza, Bankers Hall (original version). Would have to move sites for some of these as I want the towers that eventually went up on some of these sites as well - "I want it all damnit!".
I'll include some of the articles and photos I found in the coming posts below related to "Unbuilt" projects - I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
FCC1982
Senior Member
Okay - Lets start with First Canadian Centre (BMO) 2nd tower of 64 storeys:
It's the building I most wish was built during that boomtime. There was a 75 storey tower and another 60ish floor one, but this one would have still been a cool building today.
FCC1982
Senior Member
I agree Surreal.
Carrying on - here is more on the original proposal for Bankers Hall:
Carrying on - here is more on the original proposal for Bankers Hall:
FCC1982
Senior Member
And Cascade/McIntyre Plaza - 66 storeys:
FCC1982
Senior Member
And here is info on Bay Park Plaza - 2 towers of 63 storeys each - where Brookfield Place was eventually built:
FCC1982
Senior Member
And some miscellaneous other projects:
Plaza 75:
Calgary Centre - second taller tower:
Atco Tower:
4 towers proposed for the empty lots along the rail line on 9th Ave by Marathon Realty:
Victoria Square - this is on 2 lots where Stampede Station, Nuera/Alura & Sasso/Vetro are (and hopefully the Truman JW & W Marriot hotels will be):
Odessa - 45 storeys at the western end of 9th Ave.:
Plaza 75:
Calgary Centre - second taller tower:
Atco Tower:
4 towers proposed for the empty lots along the rail line on 9th Ave by Marathon Realty:
Victoria Square - this is on 2 lots where Stampede Station, Nuera/Alura & Sasso/Vetro are (and hopefully the Truman JW & W Marriot hotels will be):
Odessa - 45 storeys at the western end of 9th Ave.:
CalgaryTiger
Senior Member
Well done, very cool. Moved to Calgary in '97, watching the second Bankers Hall tower go up is what got me into skyscrapers. That was also the beginning of the World's Tallest changing hands many times over the years, so that nudged me into skyscrapers as well.
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FCC1982
Senior Member
Some early plans for the Eau Claire lands that we are still trying to fill:
A 50 storey tower for Dome Petroleum was part of the Eau Claire plan:
Eventually we got the Canterra Tower here thank goodness:
A 50 storey tower for Dome Petroleum was part of the Eau Claire plan:
Eventually we got the Canterra Tower here thank goodness:
FCC1982
Senior Member
Original Eaton's Center:
Rendering from 1986/87 - I think this is the 50 storey gold version DougB is referring to:
FCC1982
Senior Member
How about some "Future Skyline" info from a 1979 perspective:
.... and a 1981 perspective:
This is from 1982 listing all the projects to be completed in 1982, 83 & 84 (and Bankers Hall in 1985):
Here is another article with a list from around that time:
And a picture of the model for the Petro Canada Centre - originally referred to as the "Arci Ltd." proposal in the info above:
.... and a 1981 perspective:
This is from 1982 listing all the projects to be completed in 1982, 83 & 84 (and Bankers Hall in 1985):
Here is another article with a list from around that time:
And a picture of the model for the Petro Canada Centre - originally referred to as the "Arci Ltd." proposal in the info above: