Construction began in earnest on the restoration and conversion of the Barron Building, one of Calgary’s first downtown skyscrapers.

The Strategic Group officially launched the $100 million, 118-unit office-to-residential conversion of the 1951 building at an event Wednesday inside the 6 Street – 8 Avenue SW location.

“The rebirth of this beautiful and historic art deco building has been a passion project of ours since we acquired the building 15 years ago,” said Strategic Group CEO Riaz Mamdani.

Mamdani said at one point they were going to build a skyscraper over top of the now-heritage designated building. He said it’s the same sort of vision that J.B. Barron had when it first opened as a multi-use location.

Mamdani said they shared “the vision of Mr. Barron when, in the late 1940s, he designed this building, delivered in 1951 as a theater, and a vacant office building, Calgary’s first skyscraper, the largest office building in Calgary.”  

“That’s vision. That’s the long game.”

The City of Calgary will contribute $8.5 million through its downtown office conversion fund. When complete in 2024, the building will have 100,688 square feet of residential space and 8,580 square feet of retail.

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