CALGARY | Eighth Avenue Place | 689 FT / 210 M | 51 FLOORS

[wild wild west]

This thing is really moving now, the core is now above grade. Ironic that in spite of having no tenants and the rumours that has entailed, this is one of the busier and faster-progressing construction sites in Calgary in recent months.

[03SVTcobra]

Originally Posted by mersar

Not really. It's had pretty nice progress, though the second tower will be capped. Money behind it isn't a big issue, and at the rate its progressing they'll probably be wrapping up just as we come out of the bottom of this economic cycle, which is about the best time to.

Nooooo. They need to build both towers

Is the capping of the second tower just temporary? They'll be able to build it in the future right?

[mersar]

Originally Posted by 03SVTcobra

Nooooo. They need to build both towers

Is the capping of the second tower just temporary? They'll be able to build it in the future right?

Yep. They'll likely cap it once the podium is built and then once they decide to build it will rise from there upwards.

[mersar]

From the Calgary thread:

Originally Posted by ummagumma66

EAP

[KevinFromTexas]

So both towers are a go? I love their designs. It would have been a travesty to have just one of these get built. They compliment each other so well. Hmm, I may have a new favorite in Calgary.

[Wooster]

Only the first (taller) building is a go for now.

[wild wild west]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

So both towers are a go? I love their designs. It would have been a travesty to have just one of these get built. They compliment each other so well. Hmm, I may have a new favorite in Calgary.

I hear what you are saying, but Calgary already has an incredible number of twin towers. In Mersar's picture alone you can see the 34-storey TD Centre twins and the 50-storey Bankers Hall twins. Then off the top of my head we have Petro-Canada Centre (53 and 34 floors), Fifth Avenue Place (35-storey twins), Bow Valley Square (quadruplets at 39, 37, 32 and 17 floors), Sun Life (28-storey triplets!), Livingston Place (21-storey twins), and two more twin complexes, PennWest (20 and 10) and Centennial Place (41 and 23), currently under construction. Then there's all the condo twins...well, you get the idea

Bankers Hall was phased similarly top how EAP is supposed to be, with the first tower completed in 1989, the second tower was capped at podium level and was completed in about 2000. Honestly in this market I'll be more than happy with just the one tower for now.

[Calgarian]

Definitely enough twins, though this design does work better than most as twins.

[KevinFromTexas]

I see what you're saying. Calgary has long become famous for its twins (not really a bad thing). Though from a standpoint of wanting to see more designs and different buildings, it does leave you feeling like you're missing out on other designs.

Still, these two buildings just play off each other so well. The Petro-Can Towers are two others that do this. Melbourne's Rialto Towers too.

[mersar]

Heres a story from CTV Calgary about the downturn, featuring a shot of the models of EAP in the video and talking with about the fact its being built on spec:

[craner]

Originally Posted by mersar

Heres a story from CTV Calgary about the downturn, featuring a shot of the models of EAP in the video and talking with about the fact its being built on spec:

The model sure looks good. I hope they hit the podium roof and just keep going with the taller tower.

[bob1954]

One 62-story building, instead of 51, and when things get better in 2-3 years, the other site (tower 2), may be use for something other than office!

[Jimby]

Originally Posted by bob1954

One 62-story building, instead of 51, and when things get better in 2-3 years, the other site (tower 2), may be use for something other than office!

AFAIK, they couldn't go any higher because the building would shadow the courthouse park to the north.

[mersar]

EAP

[Jimby]

[bob1954]

JIMBY; How do other cities survive with "Tall" buildings that cast a couple of shadows....I think it's more about nonsense than anything else! I people and buisnesses can'tdeal with highrises, why be in the cities' core to begin with!!! I just don't buy the shadowing concept, sorry, my opinion of course!

[Jimby]

I'm not sure there would be taller buildings in Calgary without the "shadow rules". I think for a city of only a million people, the skyline is already an "over-achiever", but sure it would be nice if Imperial Oil or ? built something really tall.
Most cities in Canada would kill to have a project as tall as EAP going up in their downtown, and it would look outstanding in most skylines, but with the Bow going up, we're pretty blase about EAP.
I don't understand the economics of the Calgary twin tower phenomena, I would rather see one substantial tower than 2 skinny underwhelming ones, but hey, I'm not in charge, I just take pictures (of shadows)!

[isaidso]

I'm not a fan of twins either, but isn't this one going to be just the one taller tower now?

[mersar]

The speculation is that just the one tower will be built for now, the second will be built to the podium and capped until the demand is there for it. Which could be never, or could be before the first tower even tops out for all anyone knows.

[rodbuster]

From everyone that I've talked to, it's not looking good for the second tower. I've had opportunities to work on this site myself, and have many coworkers who have worked on this site. Everyone seems to be saying that the second tower will be capped off. I think it would be unfortunate as it would likely be the nicest looking twins in this city.