Three weeks since we last checked in at the site of 500 Block by Hines, and what was once little more than an excavation site has blossomed into a full blown build site. Now on the rise in central Calgary, recent photos on our Forum reveal a build site that is maturing rapidly, the future 7- and 35-storey development by Solomon Cordwell Buenz and Kirkor Architects Planners soon to become a staple of the downtown skyline. 

Build site, rebar foundation cage and excavators, image by Forum contributor Surrealplaces

Viewed above looking northeast from 12 Ave SW towards 4 St SW, the build site now centres around a massive rebar foundation cage. To the right, a pair of idle excavators await further instruction ahead of their eventual extraction.

Rebar foundation cage, ready for a big pour, image by Forum contributor Surrealplaces

Set to rise 35 storeys, the taller of the two residential towers will occupy the west end of the site, while its 7-storey counterpart will front onto 4th St SW at the east end. Viewed above, the rebar foundation cage will soon be ready for its first big cement pour. 

Reinforced columns, ready for action, image by Forum contributor Surrealplaces

Slated for completion by the end of 2019, the 463-unit development will bring at least 700 new residents into the core, the proximity to downtown and the Beltline, along with the CTrain, and Central Memorial Park, to be a pull for those seeking an urban lifestyle. Having replaced a tired, 1970s-era low-rise office building, the addition of two new residential blocks will be of great benefit to the area, bringing new life into the city centre. 

SkyriseCalgary will be sure to return to this project as progress continues. For more information, check out the associated Databasefile and Forum thread, and as always, feel free to join the conversation in the comments section below.