Calgary Tower Celebrates 50 Years

When it opened to the public on June 30, 1968, what was then known as the Husky Tower was a sight to behold in downtown Calgary, Canada, twice as high as surrounding buildings and providing those who traveled up its pair of elevators stunning vistas of the city below and mountains beyond. Despite your author’s Calgarian relatives assuring her she would be “underwhelmed” by the tower, she came away thoroughly impressed by the views and experience it offers. True, skyscrapers such as The Bow and Telus Sky partially obstruct views today, but the observation deck is 360˚, and there are still plenty of points to look out onto sights such as the Saddle Dome and the many tall buildings that have proliferated around Calgary in the past 50 years. Also, the tower itself has a sturdy, “they don’t make them like that anymore” look of quality to it, with its bright-red circular crown housing a revolving restaurant and the observation deck.

The 190-m-tall structure was a 100% local project, involving architect Bill Milne, structural engineering firm Rickets Evans, and electrical and mechanical engineer Red Caruthers. It was built by CP Rail and Husky Oil for a price tag of CAD3.5 million (US$2.64 million), and the name changed to Calgary Tower in 1971 after CP Rail took full control of the company.^[1] Since 2006, it has been owned by Aspen Properties, which held a 1960s-themed block party to celebrate its “Big 50” on June 30 on 9th Avenue.

Reference
[1] Parker, David. “Calgary Tower Holding Block Party to Celebrate 50th Anniversary,” Calgary Herald, June 25, 2018.