Calgary Eaton Centre

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Calgary Eaton Centre
Inside the skylit galleria
Inside the skylit galleria
Facts and statistics
Location Flag of Calgary, Alberta Calgary
Flag of Alberta Alberta
Flag of Canada Canada
Coordinates 51°02′48″N 114°04′09″W / 51.04667, -114.06917
Address 333 7 Ave SW
Opening date 1990
Developer T. Eaton Co.
Management 20 Vic Management Inc.
No. of stores and services 80
No. of anchor tenants 1
Total retail floor area 14,048 m² (151,211.4 sq ft)
No. of floors 4
Website Eaton Centre

Calgary Eaton Centre is an urban shopping centre located along Stephen Avenue in the downtown core of Calgary, Alberta. It is connected to the flagship downtown Sears department store (West) and neighboring TD Square shopping centre (East). It is one component in a series of two urban shopping centres (the other being TD Square) which share common ownership, management and branding (“The Core”). Together they form the busiest artery of the +15 skywalk system, which links most major office complexes, hotels, attractions and public buildings with climate controlled bridges. Although the Eaton's department store chain disappeared in 2002, Calgary Eaton Centre has retained the name.

Contents

[edit] History

The T. Eaton Co. opened its original 4-storey department store on the site in 1929. In the mid-eighties, the company's aggressive nationwide expansion prompted the redevelopment of the site to include a larger Eaton's store and a 4-level shopping centre.

The restored Eaton's facade, now Holt Renfrew.
The restored Eaton's facade, now Holt Renfrew.

Eaton's store was relocated one block west into a new 4-storey, post-modern 280,000 square foot / 26,012.9 m² building, complete with 2 levels of underground parking. Prior to demolition of the original store, the entire front facade was carefully removed and preserved. The shopping centre portion of the complex was constructed on the site of this original building, and the historic facade was carefully re-installed.

High-end department store Holt Renfrew was quick to secure the main floor to take advantage of the large historic display windows and porte-cochere. While originally occupying only one-and-a-half floors inside, Holt's appeared to dominate the entire building when viewed from the street. Today Holt Renfrew has expanded twice to occupy 42,386 square feet / 3,937.8 m² on 3 levels.

Sears Canada announced in late 2007 that they will be closing their downtown Sears location, effective the end of January 2008. Holt Renfrew is expected to relocate from Eaton Centre into a majority of the space being vacated by Sears. This leaves the download location of the Hudson Bay Company, which is connected to the Calgary Eaton Centre via TD Square and Scotia Centre, as the city's last downtown wide-interest department store.

A development permit was applied for in late 2007 for the redevelopment of the mall spanning from Holt Renfrew's new store (formerly the Sears) all the way down to the Landcaster building. Construction for the new redevelopment is slated to start near the end of 2008, and finish in 2010. This project will include one of North Americas largest glass ceilings, expanded concourses, and a seamless merger of the mall into the Devonian Gardens. It will likely trigger the redevelopment of the at grade C-Train station at TD Square.

[edit] Architecture

The entire retail galleria extends over the street.
The entire retail galleria extends over the street.

The design of the 4-storey Calgary Eaton Centre is unique in that it crosses over both 4th Street and the 3rd Street (Barclay Parade) with massive, 3-storey skywalks. The wider of the two is 150 feet / 45.72 m wide, and both include glass floors allowing visual interaction with the street below.

A continuous glazed barrel vault runs the length of the interior, creating a seamless corridor from one extreme end to the other. The fourth floor includes a food court with seating arranged around the centre's balconies.

The property also includes the 40-storey TD Canada Trust Tower, which sits above the retail podium.

[edit] Retailers

Four levels of shopping
Four levels of shopping

[edit] Anchors

  • Holt Renfrew (42,386 square feet / 3,937.8 m²)
  • Sears (280,000 sq ft. / 26,012.9 m²) (Until February 2008)

Other approximately 80 retailers spread over the four floors of the Calgary Eaton Centre. Notable retailers include:

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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