Developer LaCaille in Calgary has released these renderings of their new downtown building.
Approximately 50 floors with a mix of residential, retail, office and hotel. Estimates for height are between 180m and 200m.

http://www.lacaille.ca/photos/lacaille4/lacaille4_big01.jpg

http://www.lacaille.ca/photos/lacaille4/lacaille4_big02.jpg

What do you think?

Awesome... Looks similar to Trump Toronto. :D

I quite like it.

It definitely has a Trump Tower Toronto vibe to it.
In these renderings, it shows a SoHo Metropolitan Hotel at the bottom, which is supposed to be quite nice.

yuck, i hate Trump styled buildings.....except the one in Toronto. i'm not sure about this one, it's half-Toronto and half-ugly NYC Trump style.

Honestly, I did think of Trump Toronto. I do like it. Alot more sophisticated than most of the 1970-1990 towers Calgary built. I love the base, but the top looks abit underwhelming compared to the strengh of the base.

The height was a surprise. It looks alot taller than 180-200 metres in a future Calgary skyline shot I saw. How tall is the tallest in Calgary presently? Perhaps, the skyline looks taller than it actually is. I assumed this LaCaille building was closer to 300 metres+.

Overall, these criticism don't matter that much. This will look great.

The Bow is only ~220 m.

Petro Canada Centre is 215m / 705' and The Bow will be 236m / 775'.

The Altius Centre (black & white building with 'Rogers' along the top), likely depicted in the rendering for perspective, is 126m / 415' tall. Its roof looks to be level with the major set-back in the LaCaille building, a little more than half way up. The LaCaille building might be about 100m higher to the absolute top of the pinnacle ... so my estimate is 225m to 230m ... around 750'. Also, some other estimates have put it at 54-55 floors.

Perhaps, the skyline looks taller than it actually is. I assumed this LaCaille building was closer to 300 metres+.

The Bow had been broadly rumored to be pushing that mark, but a combination of massive construction cost rises and the Calgary 'shadow Nazis' got to it. The original budget was $550m, which got bumped up to $650m. When Foster came back with his company's original plan, which had more floors and I believe some sort of sculptured roof (definitely not flat), the cost was way out to lunch relative to the budget. So it went back and it was adjusted while the budget was bumped up to closer to a billion. Then it came back shorter and with a flat roof, and was set to be built at a cost of $1.1B, and then the shadow lobby (people in Calgary that are against shadow from tall buildings hitting certain pathways) dug in and got it chopped further to the current height. Expected cost remains in the $1.1B range.

Calgary's skyline does look a pinch taller, but that is because I think it is quite balanced and has excellent density. Toronto's skyline is bigger no doubt, but with the massive CN tower on one end, it is easy to lose perspective.

Changed the title accordingly. I will be vague until we get it determined.

This is an awesome proposal. I hope it goes through.

Calgary desperately needs something that stands out...I like this tower.

Should be a little taller than 220m... around 240-250.
But I like it... Hope it gets approved.

I really love this one. I too think it should be taller. this one would look mean at 300m:tiasd:
a little funny there comparing it with the bow.

Why can't they compare it with the Bow?
Bow is what? 236m? This is around 220m. Not much difference...

Rumour has it, amongst a few people at least, that this building could be as high as 230 or 240 m. Don't know how much weight we should put in it.

Why can't they compare it with the Bow?
Bow is what? 236m? This is around 220m. Not much difference...

I think you're missing the point.

What point?

yup, point missed. what i meant was the smiley picture looks like a comparison between the two towers.

i sure hope this one gets built. has there been any new devalopments regarding this one.

Haven't heard anything about approvals yet.

Damn it Damn it!!!

Some good news for this project! As posted by N&J on SSP:
___________________________________________________
Up, up and away
Developer plans $400M tower

Kathy McCormick, Calgary Herald

Published: Saturday, January 26, 2008

A developer is poised to build one of Calgary's tallest downtown structures -- rivaling even the currently under-construction EnCana project in height -- that would combine key ingredients to bring the inner city alive.

"We've been working for a full year on this concept, which is in for a development permit now," says president Peter Livaditis of The LaCaille Group.

"It has been designed to be the first of its kind for the downtown core."

The first "true mixed-use" building of its size in Calgary,

LaCaille Group's $400-million tower will soar 52 storeys, containing office space, an upscale hotel, apartment condominiums and some retail space, he says.

The Bow project by EnCana is to include a 58-storey tower.

However, the LaCaille project is to achieve extra height because of a design structure at the top of the building.

Located on the northeast corner of 4th Avenue and 5th Street S.W., LaCaille's building will bring a new vibrancy to Calgary's downtown, says Livaditis."I think this is the very best project in the very best location -- and I think Calgary is ready for this, if not another one like it," he says.

"Calgary has some of the very best residential sites, but they may not be good for a hotel. It has some of the very best office spaces, but people may not want to live there.

"Here, it's in the business district, it's on the Plus-15 level to access shopping, it's by hotels and it's near Eau Claire with its amenities, parks, pathways and the river. It meets all the needs very uniquely."

The project wouldn't have worked in Calgary six or seven years ago, says LaCaille vice-president Al Schmidt.

"The dynamics of income generated in this community, plus the demographics, mean people want to spend their money on lifestyle," he says. "The timing is right and the concept takes resort living to the urban setting."

The key to a successful city is a vibrant downtown, and multi-family developers have done their part to ensure that happens. In just a short time, many new vertical homes have graced the city skyline, adding to the core by bringing people back to the centre of the city.

As the trend deepened, everything from businesses to amenities as well as arts and cultural venues have followed suit.

With the population of Calgary currently topping one million, even more people are gravitating to the inner city, whether to be closer to work, the area's growing amenities, or the river system, parks and pathways that make Calgary a dynamic place to live, work and play.

Livaditis has seen the transformation, taking it as an opportunity to bring downtown living to the next level.

Once a proud restaurateur who brought high-end dining to the prestigious Eau Claire district with La Caille on the Bow, Livaditis moved into the residential highrise development business when he saw the lack of luxury, apartment-style condos in the prestigious location.

His first venture was La Caille Residences, which are perched on top of the restaurant that sits on the banks of the Bow River.

Another tower was built across the street, followed by several more in the vicinity.

But it's the launch of his latest project that will put downtown Calgary on the map as a serious place to put down roots, says Livaditis.

"It's the latest concept that's proven successful all over North America," he says. "We're taking it to the next level here."

The inspiration for the exterior of the building has been taken from New York skyscrapers, says Schmidt.

The building is like a layer cake," he says.

"It's tall and slender, but the condos will be on top -- all very glassy to take advantage of the views. The bottom is more solid and a timeless design."

The 120 condominium apartments will be extremely high-end, starting on the 30th floor. The units will average 1,200 to 1,400 square feet, with 20 per cent more than 2,000 square feet.

A unique feature of the condominiums will be the tie into the hotel and office space below.

While negotiations are still ongoing, Livaditis hopes to have an announcement within the next month or 90 days as to which hotel chain will be involved.

"It will be a five-star hotel with all the facilities, including swimming pools, a spa, fitness centre, 24-hour concierge services, and the like," he says.

"Homeowners, as well as office personnel and hotel guests, will be able to access these services. People will be living in a building with all the perks."

The office space, too, will be unique.

Consisting of 300,000 square feet of Triple A grade office space, the site will also be "condominiumized," says Schmidt. Businesses will be able to buy whole floors, if desired.

Restaurants and meeting rooms will be on the Plus-15 level, adding to the function.

Besides the underground parking available for condo owners and guests of the hotel, the building will be connected to a public parkade by the Plus-15 level, adding more access for offices and visitors.

The Plus-15 level will include a large community space of 5,500 square feet for public use.

"Everything we are doing is driven by our mandate to be the best," says Schmidt.

"Our real success will be the fact that our project is so unique. In spite of the market correction the last half of 2007, it never caused us to wonder about this project.

"Regardless of the market, the buyers who will be here are here for the long term."

While prices of condominiums have yet to be finalized, expect them to start in the range of plus $1,000 per square foot, says Schmidt.

LaCaille Group is hoping to start marketing the project this summer, with construction to begin next year. The building will take three and a half to four years to complete.

Meanwhile, LaCaille recently announced several other projects. Look for more on the latest one, Solaire at Louise Station, in an upcoming New Condos section.

^^ Awesome! So another eight-hundred footer!

I do very much like this building.

Good news!

this is great news. i think this will be a new anouther "tallest west of toronto". bawhahaha
i hate it when they print that.:ohno:

yuck, i hate Trump styled buildings.....except the one in Toronto. i'm not sure about this one, it's half-Toronto and half-ugly NYC Trump style.


Rather have a Trump style building than another squat concrete/stone dwelling in Vancouver. This would look good in any Canadian city. If no one wants it I'm sure Calgary will still take it.

Wow, talk about grandiose. So fitting for Calgary...I like it!

awesome ! my girl friend finally said we could move to Calgary if I wanted too ! I love that City !

I really love this one. I too think it should be taller. this one would look mean at 300m:tiasd:
a little funny there comparing it with the bow.

i hit this one dead on.:cheers:

This building is now supposed to be 243m.

However, there is word that it is undergoing a redesign, with no spire. We'll see what happens...

Thread title changed.

nutts , I'm glad about the height , but I liked the spire .

more info please . . . . that location is close to the river, will the shadow nazis have a problem with this one or have the developers allready thought of that ?

This one has less shadow issues because it is relatively further away from the rive than the Bow is, so I hear.

The new design

http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/7493/thegrandjk2.jpg

Hmmm, still looks cobbled together. I like the form though. Any news on the timeline ?

What a f*cken joke of a design--as if it started out as one small building, then experienced two nasty additions...UGLY!!!!