Telus officially opened their new Calgary skyscraper Telus Sky, with the company CEO calling it one of the most technologically innovative buildings in the world.

Telus Sky’s unique facade soars 60 storeys into Calgary’s downtown skyline. The $400 million building will be home to 1,600 Telus employees.

The building has been in development for the past nine years and boasts 750,000 square feet of commercial, retail and residential space.

Telus President and CEO Darren Entwistle said it was great to be in Calgary to embrace something that’s beautiful, positive and forward-looking.

“Telus Sky builds upon this rich history of investment, driven by innovation, a courage to innovate this transformative centerpiece of a revitalized city block,” Entwistle said.

The building exterior features an LED art installation called Northern Lights. It was created by Canadian artist Douglas Coupland.

Entwistle said this building, a LEED platinum standard, gives them the largest LEED platinum footprint in North America.

“Telus Sky is Calgary’s friendly future in action. Standing as a passionate, ongoing symbol of our commitment to the country, our commitment to the province, our commitment to the city,” he said.

Example of Alberta’s renewed economic strength

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said this building will stand as a symbol of Alberta’s renewal after years of economic malaise, coupled with the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Here’s the great news: Alberta is back in a big way, and this building shows us that it’s also back in a beautiful way,” the Premier said.

“There’s been a lot of anxiety about what’s happening, what’s happening in downtown Calgary but I think the opening of this building today is a turning point it moves us from anxiety to hope.”

Premier Kenney also made an impassioned pitch to Entwistle that this building should serve as Telus’s headquarters.

Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek said she remembered being on the Calgary Planning Commission when this development permit first came forward years ago.

At that time, she thought it would be great if they could even come close to accomplishing some of the architectural feats.  She said Telus made an investment in Calgary long before city council did.

“You did it. You did it in spite of all of the challenges in spite of the odds, you created something that is epic,” she said.

“Not only in terms of its architecture, but inside this building feels like a place you want to be.”