Shell Centre (Calgary)

Shell Centre is a 33-storey, 140 m (460 ft) office tower in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. At completion in 1977, Shell Centre was the fourth tallest building in Calgary, behind Dome Tower, Bow Valley Square Two, and Stephen Avenue Place.

Shell Centre
General information
Type	Office
Location	400 4 Avenue SW,  Calgary
Coordinates	51°05′00.2″N 114°07′30.8″W
Construction started	1975
Completed	1977
Owner	Cadillac Fairview
Height
Roof	140 m (460 ft)
Technical details
Floor count	33
Floor area	630,000 sq ft (59,000 m^2)
Lifts/elevators	15
Design and construction
Architect	WZMH Architects
Developer	Olympia and York
Other information
Parking	86
References
[1]

The Shell Centre was announced by Olympia and York Developments in February 1975 as a $35-million, 33-storey, 630,000 sq ft (59,000 m²)[2] tower to be built on the site of the former Caravan Hotel. The building would be Olympia and York's first development in Western Canada, which went ahead despite the absence of a major tenant at announcement.[3] During construction of the building Shell Oil would step forward to become the primary tenant for the building in a plan that would consolidate the oil company's 1,000 employees in Calgary, and changing the name of the building to Shell Centre.[4] Shell Centre's design called for 34,000 cubic yards of concrete and 4,700 tons of steel in construction, and the structure was cladded with 1.25 inch think slabs of Italian granite.[5] The building included two levels of underground parking with capacity for 86 cars.[5] The building was designed in a figure eight shape which allows for eight corner offices, and includes a recessed lobby accessible from street levels behind a series of supportive pillars.[5] The Calgary Herald would note the tower marked a turning point in corporate offices in Calgary, moving away from the traditional simple towers which were previously common in the city, to more elaborate and flamboyant skins of marble and granite which were common in American cities.[5]

See also

• List of tallest buildings in Calgary

References

1. "Shell Centre". Skyscraper Center. Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
2. Simaluk, Vern (July 9, 1975). "Recession costs hotel in Rank's core plan". Calgary Herald. p. 34.
3. "$35-million tower to replace Caravan". Calgary Herald. February 10, 1975. p. 29. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
4. "Best Face Forward". Calgary Herald. April 29, 1976. p. 74.
5. Glassco, John (September 16, 1978). "Architecture Calgary: Shell Centre; 427 feet of granite beauty". Calgary Herald. p. F17. Retrieved July 13, 2020.

External links

• "Shell Centre". CTBUH Skyscraper Center.