The Calgary Tower is a 190.8-metre (626 ft) free standing observation tower in the downtown core of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Originally called the Husky Tower, it was conceived as a joint venture between Marathon Realty Company Limited and Husky Oil as part of an urban renewal plan and to celebrate Canada's centennial of 1967. The tower was built at a cost of CA$3,500,000 and weighs approximately 10,884 tonnes, of which 60% is below ground. It opened to the public on June 30, 1968 as the tallest structure in Calgary, and the tallest in Canada outside Toronto. It was renamed the Calgary Tower in 1971.
Calgary Tower
The Calgary Tower in 1978, showing the original red and yellow paint scheme
The upper deck
A skyline view from the tower
Downtown Calgary is a dense urban district in central Calgary, Alberta. It contains the second largest concentration of head offices in Canada, despite only being the country's fourth largest city in terms of population. The downtown is divided into several residential, commercial, corporate, and mixed-use neighbourhoods, including the Financial District (CBD), Eau Claire, Chinatown, East Village, Beltline, and the West End.
Downtown Calgary seen from the north
Calgary Municipal Building, the seat of local government, is located in an informal subdivision in Downtown known as the Government District.
Stephen Avenue is a pedestrian mall located in the commercial core's entertainment district.
The Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre in Chinatown, a neighbourhood located north of the commercial core.