Calgary ‘The Bow’ in World Top 15 Spectacular Buildings

The tallest office tower in Calgary has been included in a list of the world’s 15 most spectacular corporate buildings.

Completed last year and renowned for its crescent shape and view of the Bow River, EnCana Corporation and Cenovus Energy headquarters building The Bow was included in the list – which includes (in no particular order) the 15 most spectacular buildings based on innovative design, visual impact and function of significant corporate architecture as determined by a jury of building experts from Emporis, an international provider of building data.

Originally proposed by EnCana, North America’s second largest gas producer, construction started in 2007 but was briefly put on hold in 2008 due to financing difficulties associated with the project as the global financial crisis took hold.

In a statement, Emporis said structures from all over the world housing companies from all kinds of industries were considered in the contest, with buildings ranging from dizzyingly tall skyscrapers to daring designs by star architects to large company campuses. Despite these variations, the buildings considered all have one thing in common – they are impressive.

The research firm says global corporate behemoths often use the impact of skyscrapers to represent their economic might. The 452-metre Petronas Towers and the 367-metre Bank of China Tower – two of the world’s tallest corporate places – are prime examples, it says.

“Other companies create buildings that are outsize versions of their most important products” Emporis says. “Thus the 101-metre-tall tower at BMW’s headquarters in Munich is intended to evoke the pistons of a four cylinder engine. Adidas commissioned a similarly symbolic building: the footprint and facade of adidas LACES, completed in 2011, bring to mind a giant sneaker.”

Not surprisingly, Emporis says it is not unusual for renowned architects to be behind these types of buildings, with the involvement of UK-based Foster + Partners (architects of The Bow) serving as a prime example.

Indeed, Foster’s next major project – Apple’s new headquarters in Silicon Valley – will be interesting as well. Reaching 230 metres in diameter, the ring-shaped campus will be reminiscent of a futuristic spaceship.

By Andrew Heaton

Top Image Source: Ledcor