The Bow, Modern skyscraper in downtown Calgary, Canada
The Bow is a 236-metre skyscraper in downtown Calgary with two curved glass facades that bow outward, crisscrossed by diagonal white steel beams in a diamond grid. A curved vertical seam separates the left facade from a right facade of horizontal glass panels. The grey-blue reflective glass rises against the sky, and the building was completed in 2012.
EnCana announced the tower in 2006; groundbreaking took place on 13 June 2007 after the York Hotel was demolished, its bricks saved for reconstruction. A continuous 36-hour concrete pour in May 2008 filled the 3,000-square-metre foundation. The Bow surpassed the Suncor Energy Centre as Calgary's tallest building on 8 July 2010 and opened in 2013.
A public plaza at ground level features a monumental head sculpture by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa, inviting people to gather and interact with public art. The sculpture creates a human connection between this modern tower and the city's residents and visitors.
The Bow has no public observation deck; floors 54 and 55, with the meeting rooms, lounges and conference centre, are private. Visitors reach the tower through the +15 skywalk network and its 1,400 parking stalls. The two Jaume Plensa sculptures stand outside, on the south and north plazas, and can be seen without entering the offices.
The curved shape was engineered to reduce wind resistance while maximizing sun exposure, leading to energy savings of around 30 percent. This design choice makes the building work harder for its occupants' comfort without consuming excess power.
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