If you’ve spent any time on Stephen Avenue, you’ve likely walked by what was once Calgary’s tallest building without even knowing.
And really, you can’t be faulted for that. At six storeys tall, the Grain Exchange Building isn’t exactly a skyscraper. But over 100 years ago, it may as well have been!
The Grain Exchange Building was built in 1908 by meat packer and rancher William Robert Hull. The cost of construction was $164,000 — the equivalent of over $5 million today. Initially called the Hull Block, it was a hub for grain businesses, hosting 21 companies by 1910, at which point the name changed to The Grain Exchange Building.
Business was booming, and in 1919, the exchange needed more space and moved to the Lancaster Building. Since then, many types of businesses have occupied the space. The Grain Exchange Building also boasts Calgary’s first passenger elevator.
New heights
The Grain Exchange Building originally drew concerns about its height, specifically, what sort of impact the wind might have on such a tall building. However, that wouldn’t be a problem for long. Between 1908 and 1912, property value in the area around Stephen Avenue shot up by 1000 per cent, and developers began constructing taller buildings, bringing the Grain Exchange Building’s brief tenure as the tallest structure in Calgary to a close.
Today, Calgary’s tallest building is Brookfield Place on 6 Avenue SW. Completed in 2017, the structure houses 56 storeys of office space and towers over other skyscrapers in the area at 247 metres tall.
Built to last
A combination of sandstone and reinforced concrete created a building that could withstand the test of time. The Grain Exchange Building has kept many of its original interior and exterior features, such as the pronounced cornice, ground floor, storefronts, and perhaps most notably, the beautiful front entrance door made with wood tracery and bevelled glass.
Next time you’re downtown, swing by Stephen Avenue to check out this awesome slice of Calgary’s history. And don’t worry — the wind won’t blow it down.
Where: 815 1 St. SW, Calgary
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