Calgary Tower

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Calgary Tower

Calgary Tower
Information
Location Calgary, Alberta
Coordinates 51°02′40″N 114°03′49″W / 51.04444, -114.06361Coordinates: 51°02′40″N 114°03′49″W / 51.04444, -114.06361
Status Complete
Groundbreaking February 19, 1967
Constructed 1968
Opening June 30, 1968
Use Observation tower
Height
Antenna/Spire 191 meters (627 ft)[1]
Technical details
Elevator count 2
Cost $3,500,000 (1967)
Companies
Architect W.G. Milne & A. Dale and Associates[2]
Owner KingStreet Capital Partners

The Calgary Tower is a 191 meter (626 foot) free standing observation tower in downtown Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

The tower was built at a cost of $3,500,000, and was a joint venture between Marathon Realty Company Limited and Husky Oil. The landmark was intended as urban renewal program for Canada's Centennial.[3] It opened to the public on June 30, 1968.

The building is a founding member of the World Federation of Great Towers.

Contents

[edit] History

The tower dominated the skyline in 1969
The tower dominated the skyline in 1969

The structure was designed by W.G. Milne & A. Dale and Associates.[2] The column of the tower was built from a continual pour of concrete. Pouring began May 15, 1967 and was completed 24 days later. At the time of construction, it was the tallest structure in Canada, although it was surpassed that same year by the Toronto-Dominion Centre in Toronto, prior to opening. The official opening took place on June 30, 1968.

Originally called The Husky Tower, it was officially renamed "The Calgary Tower" on November 1, 1971.

In 1988, a natural gas-fired cauldron at the top was constructed. The flame in it burned throughout the 1988 Winter Olympics, and since then, has been lit for special events such as the Calgary Flames Stanley Cup victory in 1989 (as well as during their run for the cup during the 2004 finals), the visit of Elizabeth II, to the city and other Alberta Centennial celebrations in 2005. The flame consumes 850 cubic meters of natural gas every hour.[2]

[edit] Amenities

The revolving restaurant
The revolving restaurant

On June 25, 2005, a newly constructed glass floor extension on the north side of the tower's observation deck opened. Consisting of four large panes of glass, it is about 20 feet long and 5 feet wide. When standing on the glass, one can look straight down on 9th Avenue South and Centre Street.

The Calgary tower features a revolving restaurant that rotates so as to give customers a scenic view of downtown Calgary. The base of the tower is connected through the +15 skyway network to One Palliser Square, Fairmont Palliser Hotel and EnCana Place. Stairs to the observation deck are not opened to the public, but have been used on occasions for publicity. There are 762 steps.[1]

In July 2006 the Official Tourism Calgary Information Centre moved to the base of the Calgary Tower where a free internet cafe and part of the Spirit of Calgary Boutique are also located.

A skyline view from the tower

A view from the glass floor extension on the observation deck

[edit] References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
  1. ^ a b Emporis Buildings. Calgary Tower. Retrieved on 2008-02-28.
  2. ^ a b c Calgary Public Library. Calgary Tower Information
  3. ^ Calgary Tower. History. Retrieved on 2008-02-28.

[edit] External links

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