Western Canada’s tallest structure being built in Calgary

Brookfield Office Properties Inc. is beginning construction of a 2.4-million sq. ft. office development project in Calgary this fall, which when finished will be the tallest structure in western Canada.

Previously known as “225 Sixth” and the former site of the Calgary Herald building, Brookfield Place Calgary will stand 56 storeys high and encompass a full block in the city’s downtown.

Cenovus Energy Inc. has agreed to lease 1-million sq. ft of the 1.4-million sq. ft. east tower. Construction of that tower is scheduled to begin in September 2013 and completed in the latter half of 2017.

Development plans call for an additional one million sq. ft office tower, a 60-ft. transparent glass pavilion, restaurants, cafes, retail stores, amenities, underground parking, a half-acre lit public plaza, public art displays, cultural activities and more.

The entire project will create 1,300 construction jobs and 7.5 million construction man-hours in Calgary. The development is also expected to achieve the LEED Gold standard.

“I am very pleased to welcome this new and stunning addition to the dynamic Calgary skyline,” said Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi. “Brookfield and Cenovus are demonstrating their confidence in Calgary as an economic hub.”