Danish architectural firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) has announced it is planning to build a new tower block in downtown Calgary, Canada. The Telus Sky Tower, which BIG intends to have LEED Platinum certified, will feature a mixture of residential, office, and retail spaces, spread over 750,000 sq ft (70,000 sq m).
Telus Sky Tower sports a glass facade and an overall shape which tapers toward the top in a way rather reminiscent of a home pregnancy test (or, if you squint a little, perhaps a kazoo).
Larger retail and commercial units will appear on lower floors (where the appealing hum of the kazoo would emanate), and at upper floors (the mouthpiece, if you like) feature residential units which jut subtly out at different points providing sheltered balconies. A roof garden is placed atop the structure, and a vertical garden is installed at ground level.
Canadian Architect reports that Telus Sky Tower will feature a total of 430,000 sq ft (40,000 sq m) office space, of which 155,000 sq ft (14,500 sq m) will be earmarked for Canadian telecommunications company Telus itself. The remainder will be given over to the residential and retail spaces.
In order to bring about the Telus Sky Tower, BIG has joined forces with Canadian architecture firm Dialog. It is scheduled for completion in late 2017.
Sources: BIG, Canadian Architect
