Rising Above

`Calgary's downtown skyline will change once again with the expected 2017 completion of the 58-storey Telus Sky.

"The Telus team is tremendously proud of our longstanding history in Alberta and thrilled to announce the development of Telus Sky, which will stand as a lasting symbol of our passionate commitment to the Calgary community, our customers, our team members and to the province of Alberta," said Darren Entwistle, Telus president and CEO. The $400 million skyscraper will include 750,000 sq. ft. of development including office, retail and residential spaces in downtown's Seventh Avenue block.

"Our new development is a powerful contribution to Calgary's economic strength, culture and social vitality," Entwistle said. "Notably, Telus Sky will inject millions of dollars into the community and create hundreds of local jobs while showcasing Telus' advanced communications technologies and environmental innovation in a way never before seen in Calgary.

"Moreover, Telus Sky will enrich the city's vibrant arts culture by offering inspiring public spaces that will exhibit works of art by local artists, thus creating a truly amazing destination for our team members, the community and indeed all Albertans."

The skyscraper will be LEED platinum certified — developed by architects Bjarke Ingels Group and Dialog with developer Westbank and real estate investment fund Allied Properties. The 750,000 sq. ft. will be broken down into 430,000 sq. ft. of office space — roughly a quarter of which is for Telus offices — along with 341 residential units and the aforementioned retail.

"We know Calgarians want their downtown core to thrive – the recent floods showed us just how much the area matters to this city," said Alberta Premier Alison Redford. "That's why I'm so pleased that Telus is making this important investment. (This) announcement is a reminder to all Calgarians that they live in a truly world-class city that is getting better by the day."

The structures LEED platinum certification includes a storm water management system to recycle rainwater for washroom toilets and outdoor irrigation and, according to a release, will use 35 per cent less energy than similar sized developments with a goal of eventually increasing that number to utilizing 80 per cent less energy.

"Building on the success of Telus Garden in Vancouver, we are proud to be continuing in our commitment to sustainability with the launch of Telus Sky," said Ian Gillespie, CEO of Westbank. "Developing a LEED Platinum building means taking a look at every aspect of design and having ownership that is committed to working harder to integrate those elements."

Other skyscrapers on board to soon grace the city's skyline include Brookfield Place — set to surpass the height of Calgary's tallest building, The Bow; a 25-storey office tower in Eau Claire dubbed Eau Claire Tower and the almost completed second tower of Eighth Avenue Place.