Calgary Tower: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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{{Infobox building

|name = Calgary Tower

|image former_name = CalgaryHusky towerTower 6.JPG(1968–1971)

|image = Calgary Tower (8033515499) straightened 2012.jpg

|image_size = 200px

|caption image_size =

|addresscaption = 101The 9 Avenue SW<br />[[Calgary]], [[Alberta]]<brTower />T2Pin 1J92012

|address = 101 9 Avenue SW<br />[[Calgary]], Alberta

|coordinates = {{coord|51|02|40|N|114|03|49|W|type:landmark_region:CA-AB|display=inline,title}}

|status = Complete

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|opening = June 30, 1968

|building_type = Observation tower, Attraction

|antenna_spire = {{convert|190.8|m|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="Emporis">{{cite web|url=http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=calgarytower-calgary-canada|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130208045544/http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=calgarytower-calgary-canada|url-status=usurped|archive-date=February 8, 2013|title=Calgary Tower|author=Emporis Buildings|author-link=Emporis|access-date=2008-02-28}}{{dead link|date=September 2022|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

|roof = {{convert|171|m|ft|abbr=on}}

|top_floor = {{convert|157.6|m|ft|abbr=on}}

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|main_contractor =

|developer =

|owner = Aspen Properties<ref>{{cite web| title=Calgary Tower| url=http://aspenproperties.ca/properties/calgary/calgary-tower/|title=Calgary Tower|publisher=Aspen Properties| access-date=2015-09-11|archive-date=July 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725053959/http://aspenproperties.ca/properties/calgary/calgary-tower/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

|management =

|references =

}}

The '''Calgary Tower''' is a {{convert|190.8|metermetre|adj=on}} free standing observation [[tower]] in the [[Downtown Calgary|downtown core]] of [[Calgary]], [[Alberta]], Canada. Originally called the '''Husky Tower''', it was conceived as a joint venture between Marathon Realty Company Limited and [[Husky Energy|Husky Oil]] as part of an [[urban renewal]] plan and to celebrate Canada's [[Canadian Centennial|centennial]] of 1967. The tower was built at a cost of {{CAD|3,500,000|link=yes}} and weighs approximately 10,884 tonnes, of which 60% is below ground. It opened to the public on June 30, 1968, as the tallest structure in Calgary, and the tallest in Canada outside Toronto.<!-- Discuss on talk page. --> It was renamed the Calgary Tower in 1971.

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

==History==

===Planning and construction===

The project was originally conceived as a joint venture by Marathon Realty (the real estate subsidiary of [[Canadian Pacific RailwaysRailway]]) and [[Husky Oil]] for their new head offices in Calgary. They proposed building the tower both to honor Canada'shonour [[Canadian Centennial|Canada's centennial]] year of 1967 and to encourage urban renewal and growth of [[downtown Calgary]].<ref name="Sun25th">{{cite news |last=Fisher |first=Mike |title=Towering tribute to landmark |work=[[Calgary Sun]] |date=June 27, 1993 |page=4}}</ref> The structure was designed by A. Dale and Associates, and was designed to withstand earthquakes and winds of up to {{convertcvt|161100|km/hmph|abbrorder=onflip}}.<ref>{{cite news|title=Even hurricanes won't hurt Tower|work=[[Calgary Herald]]|date=June 28, 1968|page=24|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JWhkAAAAIBAJ&pg=3524%2C5031488|access-date=April 30, 2021}}</ref>

The urban renewal project was announced to the public on December 10, 1965, and consisted of a transport terminal, hotel, parking, office facility and a {{convert|550 foot|ft|adj=on|order=flip}} "restaurant-observation tower".<ref>{{cite news|last=Perry|first=Fraser|title=Renewal Plan Spans Tracks|work=[[Calgary Herald]]|date=December 11, 1965|page=1|id={{pqProQuest|2253788807}}}}</ref> The chosen site housed Canadian Pacific's Calgary passenger station which was demolished a year after the announcement to make way for the development. The provincial government reviewed the tower proposal for consideration as a publicly funded centennial project, but Public Works Minister [[Frederick C. Colborne]] recommended against the use of public funds for the project.<ref name="19651210CgyHldProv">{{cite news |title=Provincially-Built Pylon Likely Out |work=[[Calgary Herald]] |date=December 11, 1965 |page=1 |id={{pqProQuest|2253788807}}}}</ref> The concept of a centennial tower was originally proposed for Edmonton, but the project was opposed by residents near the chosen site.<ref name="19651210CgyHldProv"/> Former Calgary Mayor [[Grant MacEwan]] asked the provincial government to move the project to Calgary, until Marathon and Husky decided to build the project independent of public funds.<ref name="19651210CgyHldProv"/> The plan for the tower continued to change as construction delays occurred and the planned height rose from {{convert|550 feet |to (-)|600 feet|ft|order=flip}}.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tower Start Delayed Year|work=[[Calgary Herald]]|date=September 15, 1966|page=1|id={{pqProQuest|2253699621}}}}</ref>

Construction began on February 19, 1967, and completed in 15 months at a cost of {{CAD|$3.5 million|link=yes}}.<ref name="TowerHistory">{{cite web|url=http://www.calgarytower.com/History.html|title=History of the Calgary Tower |work=Calgary Tower|access-date=2009-12-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100306182725/http://www.calgarytower.com/History.html|archive-date=March 6, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The column of the tower was built from an unprecedented continual pour of [[concrete]]. Pouring began May 15, 1967, and was completed 24 days later at an average growth of {{convert|25|ft|m|order=flip|abbr=on}} per day, a rate that was praised by industry officials as an "amazing feat of technical and physical workmanship".<ref name="HeraldOnTop">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JWhkAAAAIBAJ&pg=2454%2C5012789|title=Husky Tower puts Calgary on top|work=Calgary Herald|date=June 28, 1968|access-date=July 21, 2015|page=21}}</ref>

Upon completion, the Husky Tower stood {{convert|190.8|m626|ft|abbrorder=onflip}} tall and was the tallest structure of its type in North America.<ref name="Sun25th"/> It dominated the Calgary skyline, standing well over twice the height of the previous tallest structure in the city, [[Elveden Centre (Calgary)|Elveden House]].<ref name="HeraldOnTop"/> Developers deliberately misled the public, claiming the tower would stand {{convert|187|m613|ft|abbrorder=onflip}}, in the hopes of preventing competing developers from surpassing the Husky Tower's height record. Shortly after officials in [[San Antonio]], [[Texas]], attempted to claim the record in announcing the completion of the {{convert|190|m622|ft|abbrorder=flip|adj=on}} [[Tower of the Americas]], developers revealed the Husky Tower's true height.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JWhkAAAAIBAJ&pg=3752%2C5022180|title=Overnight growth kept city on top|work=Calgary Herald|date=June 28, 1968|access-date=July 21, 2015|page=23}}</ref>

The Husky Tower officially opened on June 28–30, 1968, in three separate ceremonies.<ref name="TowerHistory"/> The observation level featured a lounge/restaurant called the ''Hitching Post''.<ref>{{cite news |title='Hitching Post' tag coined for lounge |work=Calgary Herald |date=June 28, 1968 |page=22 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JWhkAAAAIBAJ&pg=5076%2C5021033 |access-date=April 30, 2021}}</ref>

===Later history===

[[File:Calgary Tower 1978.jpg|right|thumb|The Calgary Tower in 1978, showing the original red and yellow paint scheme]]

Marathon Realty acquired a controlling interest in the tower in 1970.<ref name="CPLCornerStones">{{cite web|url=http://calgarypubliclibrary.com/library/historic_tours/corner/tower.htm |title=Cornerstones: Calgary Tower |publisher=Calgary Public Library |access-date=2009-12-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100503090113/http://calgarypubliclibrary.com/library/historic_tours/corner/tower.htm |archive-date=May 3, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Marathon Realty Controls Tower|work=[[Calgary Herald]]|date=June 18, 1970|page=1}}</ref> The structure was formally renamed the Calgary Tower on November 1, 1971, as a tribute to the citizens of the city. It is still called the Husky Tower by airport officials, however, to distinguish it from the tower at the [[Calgary International Airport]].<ref name="TowerHistory"/>

The [[Suncor Energy Centre|Petro-Canada Centre]]'s west tower overtook the Calgary Tower as the tallest structure in Calgary in 1983.<ref name="CPLCornerStones"/>

The tower underwent significant renovations between 1987 and 1990. The addition of a souvenir shop and a revolving restaurant were part of a $2.4 million refurbishment of the upper levels of the tower.<ref name="Sun25th"/> In 1990. a glass rotunda to serve as the new lobby was added.<ref name="TowerHistory"/>

A [[natural gas]]-fired cauldron was constructed at the top of the tower by [[Canadian Western Natural Gas]] in October 1987 as a gift to celebrate the [[1988 Winter Olympics]].<ref name="CPLCornerStones"/> The torch, which consumes {{convert|850|m3}} per hour, was first lit on February 13, 1988, when the Games opened, and burned 24 hours a day throughout. It continues to be reignited for various special events, including [[Canada Day]].<ref name="TowerHistory"/>

The tower was a founding member of the World Federation of Great Towers in 1989 along with the [[Eiffel Tower]], among others.<ref>{{cite news|last=Williamson|first=Kerry|title=Landmark's glory overshadowed|work=Calgary Herald|date=August 1, 2001|page=A1}}</ref> It celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1993, a year in which it topped 500,000 visitors for the first time.<ref name="Sun25th"/>

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A glass floor extension was constructed on the north side of the tower's observation deck and opened on June 24, 2005. When standing on the glass, one can look straight down on 9th Avenue South and Centre Street.<ref>{{cite news|last=Stolte|first=Elise|title=Glass floor 'a little scary'|work=Calgary Herald|date=June 25, 2005|page=B5}}</ref>

An [[Light-emitting diode|LED]], multicolour exterior lighting system was added and was first tested on August 1, 2014. 12 lights were added to the crown and 24 to the exterior floor. Each light has been programmed to be able to create over 16.5 million combinations of colour and lighting effects. It has been used since October 8, 2014, becoming a more noticeable part of the city skyline at night.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Video: New, colourful shine put on the Calgary Tower {{!}} Metro News|url = http://www.metronews.ca/news/calgary/2014/10/08/video-new-colourful-shine-put-on-the-calgary-tower.html|website = metronews.ca|access-date = 2015-11-15|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151117063203/http://www.metronews.ca/news/calgary/2014/10/08/video-new-colourful-shine-put-on-the-calgary-tower.html|archive-date = November 17, 2015|url-status = dead}}</ref>

==Architecture==

[[Image:Calgarytowerrevolvingrestaurant.JPG|thumb|right|The upper deck]]

The Calgary tower features a [[revolving restaurant]], Sky 360, that rotates so as to give customers a scenic view of downtown Calgary. The restaurant does a complete rotation every 45 minutes during the day and every 60 minutes in the evening.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.great-towers.com/towers/calgary-tower/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121128003940/http://www.great-towers.com/towers/calgary-tower|archive-date=November 28, 2012|title=Facts and visitor information on the Calgary Tower in Canada » The World Federation of Great Towers}}</ref> The base of the tower is connected through the [[+Plus 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, as well as for an annual charity stair-climbing race. There are 802 steps.<ref name="Emporis"/>

The Vertigo Theatre, founded in 1976 originally as Pleiades Theatre, is located at the base of the tower. They have been entertaining the city from their location in the Calgary Tower since 2003, providing a full season of plays in the [[Mystery fiction|mystery genre]], for adult and youth audiences.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Vertigo|url=https://www.vertigotheatre.com/vertigo|access-date=2021-04-02|website=Vertigo Theatre|language=en-US}}</ref>

The tower also features a [[carillon]] that was presented to the city by the local Dutch community in 1975 as part of the city's centennial celebrations. It was played daily at noon until removed in 1987 for storage.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://calgarypubliclibrary.com/library/historic_tours/corner/tower.htm|title=Cornerstones: Calgary Tower|access-date=December 4, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100503090113/http://calgarypubliclibrary.com/library/historic_tours/corner/tower.htm|archive-date=May 3, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> The carillon has since been refurbished and restored to operation.

It is similar in design to the [[Skylon Tower]] in [[Niagara Falls, Ontario]].

==Gallery==

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==References==

{{reflist|2}}

== External links ==

{{commons category|Calgary Tower}}

*{{Official website}}

*[http://www.visitcalgary.com/ Tourism Calgary Official Site]

*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sms7MNjjPuw Video from top of Calgary Tower]

{{Calgary landmarks}}

[[Category:Historic buildings and structures in Calgary]]▼

[[Category:Modernist architecture in Canada]]▼

[[Category:Observation towers in Canada]]▼

[[Category:Tourist attractions in Calgary]]▼

[[Category:Towers completed in 1968]]

▲[[Category:Observation towers in Canada]]

[[Category:Towers in Alberta]]

[[Category:Buildings and structures in Calgary]]

[[Category:Towers with revolving restaurants]]

▲[[Category:Tourist attractions in Calgary]]

▲[[Category:Modernist architecture in Canada]]

▲[[Category:Historic buildings in Calgary]]

[[Category:1968 establishments in Alberta]]