Canadian energy giant EnCana and the City of Calgary hope that the corporation's new headquarters, scheduled for completion in 2011, will put Calgary on the "architectural map."
"Calgary's boom has drenched the city in money, but yesterday's unveiling of EnCana Corp.'s planned $1-billion glass-and-steel office tower is unlike anything the city has ever seen, an instant icon that will stand at the forefront of 21st-century architecture.
Designed by London's Foster + Partners, the 59-storey crescent-shaped tower -- dubbed The Bow -- will stand 247 metres, the tallest building in Canada west of Toronto.
The aerodynamic design will reduce the amount of steel needed to support the structure and each floor will be constructed with extra space for air circulation, helping reduce the need for heating and air conditioning. Combined with the abundant use of natural light, that should cut energy use by about a third compared with a conventional building, according to EnCana.
The design, named after the river that flows past downtown, also includes three floors with open spaces and lush vegetation that Nigel Dancey of Foster + Partners calls 'gardens in the sky.' The curved building will give most office workers a window with a view, and many of them will be able to see the Rocky Mountains to the west.
The Bow will be positioned [at the edge of] a downtrodden area compared with the oil towers west of Centre. City council hopes The Bow becomes a linchpin for further east-side development, including a new central library and a possible downtown adjunct of the University of Calgary and a potential relocation for the Alberta College of Art and Design."
FULL STORY: A $1-billion reach into Calgary's sky
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Planning for Accessibility: Proximity is More Important than Mobility
Accessibility-based planning minimizes the distance that people must travel to reach desired services and activities. Measured this way, increased density can provide more total benefits than increased speeds.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
New York Passes Housing Package Focused on New Development and Adaptive Reuse
The FY 2025 budget includes a new tax incentive, funding for affordable housing on state land, and support for adaptive reuse and ADUs.
LA Metro Board Approves New 710 Freeway Plan
The newest plan for the 710 corridor claims it will not displace any residents.
Austin’s Proposed EV Charging Rules Regulate Station Locations, Size
City planners say the new rules would ensure an efficient distribution of charging infrastructure across the city and prevent an overconcentration in residential areas.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.