Calgary Icons: Park Point

Qualex-Landmark’s mixed-use residential condominium development Park Point brings strong architectural vision, some cosmopolitan sass and design innovation to the gentrification of Calgary’s Beltline.

Designed by global architectural firm IBI Group, the 34-storey, glass-sheathed black and white tower will infuse Calgary’s skyline with a lasting iconic presence. It’s a sculptural expression with sophisticated contemporary style that overlooks the historic Memorial Park with its Victorian gardens: a lovely juxtaposition of old and new.

THE DEVELOPER

Qualex-Landmark, a Vancouver-based developer, has an extensive track record of both residential and commercial real estate success in both Vancouver and Calgary. Its Calgary projects span the inner-city Beltline area and include Stella, Nova, Luna and Calla. Mark on 10th is a comprehensive high-rise luxury home project with an innovative public art component designed by Douglas Coupland is in the final stages of completion. Sales at Park Point recently launched. Qualex-Landmark is in the planning stages on its seventh Calgary project located on 11th Avenue and 12th Street S.W.

THE ARCHITECT

An accomplished architect with a diverse portfolio, Tony Wai holds a bachelor of arts and science degree in architectural and visual studies from the University of Toronto and a master’s degree in architecture from the University of British Columbia. During his studies, he was recognized for his talents in design, winning various awards and competitions. His design portfolio includes a selection of luxury private homes, city halls, hospitals, museums and community centres. He currently holds the title of architectural designer and project manager at IBI Group in Vancouver. He was the design lead on Park Point and is currently working on two upscale riverfront condo developments within the River Green Village Project. Wai was recently invited to serve as an adjunct professor for a design studio in the Master of Architecture program at the University of British Columbia.

THE NAME

The name, Park Point, reflects the staggered juxtaposition of black and white on the building. The visual context of the black flows from the top of the building toward the bottom, where a solid black granite frame marks the entrance to the lobby at ground level. Inside the two-storey lobby, a huge chandelier will glow 24/7. The entire visual image will present distinctly to an observer, especially when viewed in its entirety from across the park.
“It looks like an exclamation mark where the lobby is the dot,” says Wai.

THE VISION

The architectural expression relates to the urban scale of the surrounding buildings, including future towers and the project’s location overlooking the historic Central Memorial Park.
“We really wanted to respect the existing street scape in terms of massing,” says Wai. The adjacent six-storey, glass-sheathed IBM building with curved face presented inspiration for the spatial definition of Park Point’s third-storey amenity space and terrace, which will feature a sloped ceiling and be clad entirely in glass. The curved aspects of the amenity space will face the curved aspects of the IBM building, mirroring the dynamic and presenting a continuous and seamless transition. The amenity space will also incorporate a visually stunning artistic element — a light sculpture — which will be seen from a variety of spaces at street level.
Wai also looked to the changing Calgary skyline — the sculptural C-shape of the Bow Tower, the contemporary sculpture of Telus Sky — for design inspiration.
“So in progression, we wanted to add our own modern sculpture,” says Wai.
Strong vertical architecture is created in two ways. The first includes architectural definition through design — the floor plates grow in size as they ascend the building, creating an outwardly stepped effect. Secondly, the longitudinal colour schemata comprised of three-dimensional alternating of black and white vertical blocks — the black colour plate on the facade juts out three and half feet from the white colour plate — draws the eyes in a vertical fashion, while bands of horizontal colours including orange, yellow and brown infuse warmth and pick up on the historical nature of the surrounding brick warehouse buildings.
“I wanted to make sure that this was a very strong building with an expression that is seen from top to bottom. And its location overlooking Central Memorial Park offers viewers the opportunity to see it as a whole, without other buildings obstructing the view. This isn’t possible in denser parts of town,” says Wai.

THE FINER POINTS

287 homes ranging one bedroom designs to two-storey ground-level, live-work townhomes.
8 home plans
3 finishing packages
6 black and white framed window bays on each side of the tower on each level
98 per cent Walk Score
1 very cool restaurant and patio overlooking the park.

By: Andrea Cox
Publication: The Calgary Herald