Bankers Hall
Encyclopedia
Bankers Hall is a building complex located in downtown Calgary
, Alberta
, which includes twin 52-storey office towers (197 metres high), designed by the architectural firm Cohos Evamy
in postmodern architectural style.
The first building, known as Bankers Hall - East, is located at 855 2nd Street SW and was completed in 1989. It was followed in 2000 by Bankers Hall - West, at 888 3rd Street SW. After its completion, they became the tallest twin buildings in Canada.
Both buildings contain four-level podiums with an upscale retail gallery connected to the Plus 15 skywalk
network. The Core Shopping Centre
, the largest shopping complex in downtown Calgary, is directly connected via Plus 15. The northeast corner of the complex incorporates the historic Hollingsworth Building, whose intricate terra cotta
facade has been fully restored.
The distinctive crowns of the buildings are intended to resemble cowboy hat
s when viewed from afar; Bankers Hall West is topped by a gold roof structure while the East building's crown is in silver. A white cowboy hat has long been an iconic symbol of Calgary, being portrayed on the city's flag, and presented as gifts to foreign dignitaries by the civic government at "white hat ceremonies."
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, which includes twin 52-storey office towers (197 metres high), designed by the architectural firm Cohos Evamy
Cohos Evamy
Cohos Evamy is an architectural, engineering, interior design and planning firm. It operates as a single office shared between three established studios in Calgary and Edmonton, and Toronto.-History:...
in postmodern architectural style.
The first building, known as Bankers Hall - East, is located at 855 2nd Street SW and was completed in 1989. It was followed in 2000 by Bankers Hall - West, at 888 3rd Street SW. After its completion, they became the tallest twin buildings in Canada.
Both buildings contain four-level podiums with an upscale retail gallery connected to the Plus 15 skywalk
Skyway
In an urban setting, a skyway, catwalk, sky bridge, or skywalk is a type of pedway consisting of an enclosed or covered bridge between two buildings. This protects pedestrians from the weather. These skyways are usually owned by businesses, and are therefore not public spaces...
network. The Core Shopping Centre
The Core Shopping Centre
The CORE Shopping Centre, which consists of TD Square, the Holt Renfrew building, and the former Calgary Eaton Centre, is the dominant shopping complex located in the downtown core of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It spans three city blocks and contains approximately 160 retailers on four levels...
, the largest shopping complex in downtown Calgary, is directly connected via Plus 15. The northeast corner of the complex incorporates the historic Hollingsworth Building, whose intricate terra cotta
Terra cotta
Terracotta, Terra cotta or Terra-cotta is a clay-based unglazed ceramic, although the term can also be applied to glazed ceramics where the fired body is porous and red in color...
facade has been fully restored.
The distinctive crowns of the buildings are intended to resemble cowboy hat
Cowboy hat
The cowboy hat is a high-crowned, wide-brimmed hat best known as the defining piece of attire for the North American cowboy. Today it is worn by many people, and is particularly associated with ranch workers in the western and southern United States, western Canada and northern Mexico, with...
s when viewed from afar; Bankers Hall West is topped by a gold roof structure while the East building's crown is in silver. A white cowboy hat has long been an iconic symbol of Calgary, being portrayed on the city's flag, and presented as gifts to foreign dignitaries by the civic government at "white hat ceremonies."