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Six years after the 34-storey Arriva arrived in Victoria Park, an even taller project was beginning to make a statement on the same block. Promising to shake up 3rd Street SE from 11th Avenue to 12th Avenue SE, the 44-storey twin Guardian towers became the tallest residential buildings in Calgary upon completion in 2016.
By summer 2013, the multi-level podium that would support both towers had launched above grade. By March, the north tower was on its way towards reaching its halfway point, with vertical construction of the south tower lagging behind. The image below shows the first couple of rows of glazing installed on the eastern elevation of the north tower.
Designed by IBI Group for Hon Developments, the 620-unit development is decidedly contemporary, with its glazed walls and protruding balconies informing the design language of the highrises. But the materials employed on the base — a mix of glass, brick and sandstone — reflected the predominant warehouse aesthetic that the neighbourhood had established.
Other changes to the immediate environment include a restoration of the 1912-built Victoria School, which acts as a buffer between The Guardian and Arriva. The two-storey sandstone school building, constructed in the Edwardian Classical style, is a local landmark and Municipal Historic Resource. The original 1903 structure and an addition built in 1907 were demolished in 1961 to make way for a modern wing with new classrooms and a gymnasium.
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| Related Companies: | Arcadis |
