[Bigtime]

Today my wife and I decided to take a walk through Calgary's downtown and Beltline community. The Beltline is the neighbourhoods formerly known as Connaught and Victoria Park that are immediately south of the CBD, seperated from it by the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks. Along the way we decided to do something we hadn't done in years in our hometown, go up the Calgary tower.

Reflections of construction in the Beltline:
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg247/Staynera/09-07-08001.jpg

Keynote, a residential and office development:
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg247/Staynera/09-07-08002.jpg

Palliser South under construction with the tower to the north:
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg247/Staynera/09-07-08003.jpg

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg247/Staynera/09-07-08004.jpg

I love the graffiti:
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg247/Staynera/09-07-08005.jpg

Le Germain, a hotel/office and condominium project going up north of the Calgary tower:
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg247/Staynera/09-07-08006.jpg

Model of the Palliser twins that could eventually flank the tower. Not going ahead yet though:
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg247/Staynera/09-07-08007.jpg

Up in the tower and a look down towards EnCana's Norman Foster designed tower 'The Bow'. It will be our new tallest in Calgary when complete around 2010/11.
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg247/Staynera/09-07-08008.jpg

Looking through the glass floor at the Le Germain site:
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg247/Staynera/09-07-08009.jpg

Yours truly:
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg247/Staynera/09-07-08004-1.jpg

Our current tallest building, the Petro Canada Centre:
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg247/Staynera/09-07-08010.jpg

Bankers Court under construction:
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg247/Staynera/09-07-08011.jpg

Skyline looking due west:
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg247/Staynera/09-07-08012.jpg

More construction down below, all office:
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg247/Staynera/09-07-08013.jpg

Looking southwest into the Beltline, new and old:
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg247/Staynera/09-07-08014.jpg

1st Street featuring Chocolate in the back, Colours on the left and Union Square to the right. All new residential condos with retail at grade:
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg247/Staynera/09-07-08015.jpg

Looking towards Stampede Park and the green towers of Sasso & Vetro, the construction in front of them is two more condo towers dubbed 'Nuera':
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg247/Staynera/09-07-08016.jpg

The Keynote development from the tower:
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg247/Staynera/09-07-08018.jpg

Palliser South office from up top:
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg247/Staynera/09-07-08019.jpg

Our home, arriVa. We'll be joined eventually by two more towers of 43 stories and you won't be able to see us as well from the tower:
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg247/Staynera/09-07-08020.jpg

Stampede Expansion, the Roundup Centre is used for convention space and special events. The Saddledome in the background:
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg247/Staynera/09-07-08021.jpg

This empty land straddling the train tracks has a massive development dubbed 'Railtown' in the works. Mixed use of office/commercial/residential with an estimated buildout of 5000 residential units:
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg247/Staynera/09-07-08022.jpg

Back on solid ground we head west along 9th avenue and come upon the Grain Exchange building:
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg247/Staynera/09-07-08026.jpg

The recently rebuilt postal building also houses the terminal for the ultra fancy Canadian Pacific tourist train that takes people into the mountains for a spectacular vacation:
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg247/Staynera/09-07-08027.jpg

Cranes, concrete, and glass rising in the core:
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg247/Staynera/09-07-08029.jpg

Lots of reflection:
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg247/Staynera/09-07-08030.jpg

Having fun with public art:
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg247/Staynera/09-07-08015-1.jpg

Jamieson Place, another tower under construction:
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg247/Staynera/09-07-08031.jpg

Livingston Place, recently completed 2 tower project. The black gives it an 'Evil Empire' look!
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg247/Staynera/09-07-08032.jpg

Jamieson place from the north, the lighter grey frame is an enclosed winter garden space:
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg247/Staynera/09-07-08033.jpg

Fancy manhole:
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg247/Staynera/09-07-08036.jpg

Centennial Place, another new office development:
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg247/Staynera/09-07-08037.jpg

The new Calgary Courts Centre, the atrium running the entire height makes up for a rather mediocre building:
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg247/Staynera/09-07-08038.jpg

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg247/Staynera/09-07-08039.jpg

Someone doesn't like Starbucks:
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg247/Staynera/09-07-08040.jpg

Back in the Beltline, Concrete Equities Place. A office condo development:
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg247/Staynera/09-07-08041.jpg

Vintage towers with Bankers Hall east in the background:
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg247/Staynera/09-07-08043.jpg

Almost back home at the Pilkington Bros. warehouse:
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg247/Staynera/09-07-08044.jpg

Calgary also recently received the piece of artwork 'Device to Root Out Evil' from Vancouver. Apparently some condo owners didn't like it blocking their view so somebody in Calgary paid to have it brought here instead. A couple of pics of it from the other day, not quite fully assembled yet:
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg247/Staynera/09-05-08001.jpg

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg247/Staynera/09-05-08003.jpg

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg247/Staynera/09-05-08004.jpg

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg247/Staynera/09-05-08006.jpg

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg247/Staynera/09-05-08008.jpg
Hope you enjoyed the pics of our city on a rather cloudy and cold day!

[Coldrsx]

great tour, thanks biggy

[wayward_prince]

wow are you ever cute ;) ...oh and nice pics too.

[Boris2k7]

Great tour Aaron. Your wifey is awesome. :)

I also see some more curtainwall up on Jamieson. Note to self: get pics after school tomorrow...

[Top Of The Park]

awesome views

[dugdogmaster]

Awesome city. I love that urban sculpture at the end:cheers: You two look like you had a wonderful day

[SpongeG]

nice

[stepper77]

Downtown Calgary is looking very nice. Thanks!!

[Jularc]

Nice shots of an interesting city. Nice photos of you too ofcourse. ;)

[DLLB]

Great series. It's great to see your better half get into the spirit of things as well.

[Bigtime]

Great series. It's great to see your better half get into the spirit of things as well.

Thanks for all the comments everyone!

Yeah I have managed to get my wife into the spirit of all things skyscraper and urban development. But it wasn't that hard, the day I met her she told me she wanted to live in the inner city for the rest of her life. Right there I knew she was the one! :tup:

[Jimby]

Great tour! You are very brave to sit on the glass floor on top of the Tower!

[jeffwhit]

wow are you ever cute ;) ...oh and nice pics too.

You should see his unit.

[Kingofthehill]

Nice pictures.

What is the cause for all of this boom? Is it related to the oil sands development?

[Bigtime]

Nice pictures.

What is the cause for all of this boom? Is it related to the oil sands development?

Long story short? Yes. Pretty much every player in the oilsands has either their head offices or offices in Calgary. With them comes all the supporting industries as well (engineering, r&d, pipeline, etc). As a result of this latest oil boom Calgary has had more than its share of intra-country immigration with people coming from other provinces for work. However we are seeing a slow down from the very hectic pace of the last few years. A very welcome relaxation if you ask most of us. It may actually give the city a chance to catch up on many areas that have gone lacking, such as transportation, social services, and our very large homeless problem.

[Deepstar]

Nice work Bigtime :tup:

[peanut gallery]

Great shots! Calgary already has a beautiful and impressive skyline. I can't imagine how great it will look when all those projects are completed.

[ST1]

Nice job. Sometimes I can't believe how much construction is going on in Calgary.

[LAsam]

Looks like quite the boomtown! Glass floors... that sounds fun :)

[10101000]

Great Shots!

[Nicko999]

Great!!!