New life for old Telus Buildings on 6th Avenue SW

[Bob van Wegen]

Buildings' heritage preserved in Mancal renovation project

David Parker
Calgary Herald

Thursday, October 20, 2005


We get a little concerned when we see big tarps surrounding older buildings: there's always the danger that they will disappear behind the screening. No need to worry about the stylistic former AGT/Telus building across from Petro-Canada Centre and the Calgary Chamber of Commerce on 6th Avenue S.W.

One of the reasons it was purchased by Mancal Properties Inc., part of the Mancal Group controlled by Fred Mannix, is that the company wanted to make sure the historical building was retained and, although the interior has been gutted back to the walls in the renovation, I'm assured that when the facade is revealed again it will not be changed other than new windows, which were needed.

Actually, there are two buildings on the site -- 115 and 119 6th Ave. S.W. -- one built in 1929 and the other in the early 1930s as a telephone exchange, and boasting the province's first automatic elevators. Long since deemed non-functional for today's technology, they are being transformed into modern office space with new elevators, electrical, mechanical, security -- the whole nine yards, including converting the basement into 20 parking spaces.

The street level will provide 15,200 square feet of retail or office space and the second level, which runs right through both structures, is being transformed into 21,500 square feet of much needed office area by CANA Construction working with designs by Gibbs Gage Architects.

No. 119 has two additional floors of 13,000 square feet offering a total of 62,700 square feet that will be available for occupancy by the second quarter of 2006.

The buildings were sold to Mancal through Alex Wong of Avison Young who has been retained as exclusive leasing agent. He says Mancal anticipated the market correctly as today's tight vacancy rate is only going to get tougher by year-end and larger areas of space will be very difficult to find until some of the newer construction comes on stream.

It is certainly in a great location, just a Plus-15 walk into Hanover Place and a couple of doors down from where EnCana is to build its new office tower.

Go to this page for a rendering of the project:

[Chris E]

Any idea of any density transfer was done on these sites? I notice the company seems to own a lot of downtown sites that are only 1-4 stories, far less than the zoning would allow.

[newsposter]

Mancal breathes new life into historic AGT building

David Parker
Calgary Herald


Tuesday, February 14, 2006

There was never much doubt the former AGT building, across from Petro-Canada Centre on 6th Avenue S.W., would survive as an example of late 1920s architecture exhibiting styles from art deco to art nouveau. But its future use has been a concern, and many were disappointed when plans for a contemporary art gallery fell through.

The purchase by Mancal Corp. was a great relief, and talking to its first tenant on a tour of the under-renovation building gave me a good feeling as to how it will be looked after.

There are actually two separate buildings in the structure: a two-storey adjacent to the Hanover Building, and a four-storey that sits next to the Lougheed Building.

ScotiaMcLeod has leased the 26,000 square feet that make up the top two floors of the west tower, and Brad Whyte, director and prairie south regional manager, assures me of the care his company is taking in being heedful of the heritage of his company's new home.

A Lethbridge native, Whyte spent some time working both ends of Australia -- in Sydney and Perth -- with Hartleys, a division of RBC Dominion Securities, before returning to Alberta in 2002 to work with his mentor, Ian Beddis, as co-directors of ScotiaMcLeod's Calgary branch. Whyte is also responsible for the Lethbridge, Medicine Hat and Regina offices, aided by Cheryl Kirchner, the region's business and administration manager.

Whyte's office here has a staff of 100, including 52 investment executives who currently work in the Scotia Centre tower.

Highly professional, they also believe in working in a fun environment and participating in the community. The top team in the Bell Walk in support of Kids Help Phone, the staff are also willing contributors to Samaritan's Purse.

In July, they will move into the AGT/Telus Building, as it has become known over the past few years, thanks to the help and advice of Alex Wong of Avison Young.

Interior design will integrate the historic aspects of the building. The company focuses on long-term financial planning, so comfortable client meeting rooms will be a feature. Along with Calgary branch administrator Linda Nicastro, Kirchner is organizing the space planning for their new home.

There are pleasant views on the north side of Petro-Canada's tiered gardens and the area where EnCana's new tower will be built. A Plus-15 will join the walkway system into the Hanover Building and Arts Central.

Mancal has gutted the two basements and joined them to provide underground parking, as well as completely refurbishing the building with all new mechanical, electrical, heating and safety equipment.

Wong is busy promoting the rest of the building with its two floors and 21,000 square feet stretching across both structures available for lease. It's a great location and, when the exterior of the Lougheed Building is completed, will form part of an attractive downtown block.