The Bow in Calgary, Canada by Foster + Partners

Article source: Foster + Partners

Official opening of The Bow, Calgary’s tallest tower

Special events have been held in Calgary this week to mark the official opening of The Bow, a 237- metre-high headquarters tower – the city’s tallest building and Canada’s tallest tower outside Toronto. A bold new landmark on the skyline, the project is equally significant in urban, social and environmental terms: the public base of the tower is filled with shops, restaurants and cafes and extends into a generous landscaped plaza, while the office floors are punctuated by three six-storey sky gardens, which encourage natural ventilation and help to significantly reduce energy use.

Image Courtesy © Nigel Young – Foster + Partners

• Architects: Foster + Partners
• Project: The Bow
• Location: Calgary, Canada
• Photography: Nigel Young – Foster + Partners
• Client: H+R Real Estate Investment Trust
• Appointment: 2005
• Construction Start: 2007
• Completion: 2013

Image Courtesy © Nigel Young – Foster + Partners

•  Site Area: 17,500m² / 188,300ft²
•  Area (gross external): 199,781m² / 2,149,644ft²
•  Typical Floor Area (net): 3,584m² / 38,564ft²
•  Height: 236m / 774.3ft
•  Number of Floors: 58
•  Structure: Steel-braced moment frame with a diagrid
•  Structure: Steel-br

Image Courtesy © Nigel Young – Foster + Partners

• Capacity: 4000
• Facilities: Offices Public plaza Retail facilities
• Parking facilities: 1360 car spaces
• Materials: 39,000 tonnes of steel was used 900,000ft² of glass was used
• Sustainability: The building’s form deflects the prevailing winds, allowing for a lighter structThe solar heat collected in the atrium is redistributed throughout the year by means of extraction during   winter and heat exchange during summer, reducing the load on the mechanical systems3 x 6 storey-high “Sky gardens” with natural vegetation at levels 24, 42 and 54 Large glazed areas reduce the need for artificial lighting Heat redistribution system Displacement ventilation via a raised floor

Image Courtesy © Nigel Young – Foster + Partners

The Bow is the first major development on the east side of Centre Street, a major axis through downtown Calgary, and it provides a shared headquarters for Encana and Cenovus. The building’s form was shaped by analysis of the climate and organisations.

Image Courtesy © Nigel Young – Foster + Partners

The tower faces south, curving towards he sun to take advantage of daylight and heat, while maximising the perimeter for cellular offices with views of the Rocky Mountains. By turning the convex facade into the prevailing wind, the structural loading is minimised, thus reducing the amount of steel required for the inherently efficient diagrid system. Each triangulated section of the structure spans six storeys, helping to visually break down the scale of the building.

Image Courtesy © Nigel Young – Foster + Partners

Where the building curves inwards, the glazed facade is pulled forward to create a series of atria that run the full height of the tower. These spaces act as climatic buffer zones, insulating the building and helping to significantly reduce energy consumption. As each floor plate has been sized to accommodate a whole business unit, there was a need to promote collaboration across the companies and bring a social dimension to the office spaces.

Image Courtesy © Nigel Young – Foster + Partners

Vertical access to the office floors is therefore directed through three spectacular sky gardens, which project into the atria at levels 24, 42 and 54 and incorporate mature trees, seating, meeting rooms, catering facilities and local lift cores. Staff facilities in these atria are complemented by an auditorium at the very top

Image Courtesy © Nigel Young – Foster + Partners

The Bow also establishes lateral connections with surrounding buildings. The tower is fused at two points to Calgary’s system of enclosed walkways, which offers a retreat from the city’s harsh winters. The second floor is open to the public and integrates shops and cafes, and with the only public connection over Centre Street, the scheme completes a vital pedestrian link in the downtown network.

Image Courtesy © Nigel Young – Foster + Partners

Externally, the building’s arc defines a large landscaped public plaza, at the heart of which is a landmark sculpture by Spanish artist, Jaume Plensa. Nigel Dancey, Senior Partner, Foster + Partners: “The tower’s form was shaped by the unique Calgary climate – facing south, the building curves to define a series of spectacular light-filled six-storey atria, with mature sky gardens, cafes and meeting areas, which bring a vital social dimension to the office floors.

Image Courtesy © Nigel Young – Foster + Partners

This principle extends to the base of the tower, which is highly permeable, with a +15 enclosed bridge connection to downtown, an atrium of shops and cafes and a fantastic new plaza. Every aspect, from the raised floors to the diagrid structure, is designed to be highly efficient. The Bow is a bold new symbol for Calgary, and is testament to the strength of our team and excellent local relationships.”

Image Courtesy © Nigel Young – Foster + Partners

Image Courtesy © Nigel Young – Foster + Partners

Image Courtesy © Nigel Young – Foster + Partners

Image Courtesy © Nigel Young – Foster + Partners

Image Courtesy © Nigel Young – Foster + Partners

Image Courtesy © Nigel Young – Foster + Partners

Image Courtesy © Foster + Partners

Image Courtesy © Foster + Partners

Image Courtesy © Foster + Partners

Image Courtesy © Foster + Partners

Tags: calgary, Canada

Category: Tower

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