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While the City debates the potential virtues and drawbacks of a hypothetical 80-storey tower for The Quarters, a similar skyline-defining tower is already making itself known in the ICE District. We just conducted a photo update on the Stantec Tower in mid-January, but a more recent batch of photos by Forum contributor Daveography reveals the project has reached a major and highly anticipated milestone: the first panels of glazing have been installed.
Inset between the bulkier floor plates and the commercial podium, two lower floors on the southern elevation have been covered in exceptionally reflective curtain wall glazing. It's a promising first look at what is to come for the much-publicized project, which will serve as the headquarters of consulting and engineering firm Stantec.
The delineation between the lower office levels and the upper residential levels will be quite visible to the naked eye. The presence of balconies is the primary indicator of residential units, as the top 38 floors will contain 481 condominiums, making the tower the host of some of the highest homes in the country. Like the already-complete Edmonton Tower, renderings suggest a programmable LED screen will be installed at the top of the skyscraper. That will certainly help the ICE District develop a distinct identity on the ground and in the air.
When the office and residential halves open in 2018 and 2019 respectively, Stantec Tower will officially unseat Calgary's Brookfield Place as the tallest building in Canada outside of Toronto. The Battle of Alberta isn't exclusive to the world of sports; the friendly rivalry permeates much of the cultural, political, and economic spheres of both cities.
Additional images and information can be found in the Database file linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion or share your photos? Check out the associated Forum thread or leave a comment at the bottom of this page.
