The storied history of the Calgary Tower and how it was built
Standing 191 metres above downtown Calgary, the Calgary Tower is an iconic part of the city’s skyline with nearly six decades of history as a stand-out attraction.
According to the Calgary Tower’s website, construction on the tower began in February 1967 and was built in celebration of Canada’s 100th birthday.
It was originally called the Husky Tower, as it was a joint venture between Marathon Realty and Husky Oil. The tower cost a whopping $3.5 million at the time, which, according to the Bank of Canada’s inflation calculator, is more than $31 million in today’s dollars.
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The materials used to build the tower were concrete and steel, and construction moved fast, with the main structure completed in just 24 days. The record pour of concrete in a single 24-hour period was 39 feet.
The tower was built to withstand Calgary’s harsh elements like snow, wind, and freezing temperatures, and while Calgary may not get powerful earthquakes very often, it was the first structure in the Western provinces designed to withstand earthquakes.
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Thanks to its sturdy construction, the tower can now withstand winds of up to 161 km/hr and will only sway around 7.5 inches at the top.
It officially opened in June 1968, just over a year after construction started. It stood as the tallest building of its kind in North America. On Nov. 1, 1971, the Husky Tower was officially renamed to the Calgary Tower as a tribute to Calgary citizens.
Since its opening, the tower has gone through many renovations and additions, like a $2.4 million renovation in 1985 to add a grill and souvenir shop. In 1987, a natural gas-fired cauldron was installed at the top to act as an official Olympic Flame during the upcoming games.
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In 1989, the Calgary tower initiated and became a founding member of the World Federation of Great Towers.
More recently, in 2005, the glass floor on the observation deck was added as a gift to Alberta on its Centennial, and in 2014, lights were added to the outside, allowing it to show off amazing light displays.
While it may not be the tallest building in the city anymore, it still stands out as one of Calgary’s most prominent landmarks and offers the same 360-degree views of the city, Bow and Elbow rivers, and the Rocky Mountains we know and love today.