CALGARY — PBA Group of Companies and Concord Hospitality have started converting the former 12-storey office building, Canadian Centre, into an Element Hotel by Westin in downtown Calgary. As a 226-suite hotel, with fully furnished extended-stay units and a sophisticated design aesthetic, the Element Hotel will offer guests a hospitable experience infused with cultural touches.
The Element Hotel is the first hospitality project as part of the Downtown Calgary Development Incentive Program. It will remove 170,000 sq. ft. of unused office space from the city’s core. This conversion project exemplifies the pivotal role that re-purposing buildings plays in advancing sustainability principles within real estate, demonstrating a commitment to sustainability and urban revitalization.
Embracing a sustainable, nature-inspired aesthetic, the hotel offers expansive studios and one-bedroom suites, which are outfitted with fully equipped in-room kitchens, spa-inspired bathrooms and the Priority Bicycles program, where hotel guests can borrow bikes free of charge during their stay.
Infusing flexibility and convenience for groups, the Element brand pioneers a unique communal space known as Studio Commons. Centred around four guestrooms, this innovative concept promotes community by allowing guests to cook, gather and unwind together within shared kitchen and living-room areas, fostering a sense of togetherness and relaxation.
The hotel also features an elevated lobby lounge and café, an upscale casual dining experience on the 12th floor, meeting rooms, a fitness centre, vehicle charging stations and low-flow fixtures. Additionally, the project has diverted 572,000kg of demolition waste from the landfill, which equates to 65 per cent of the project’s total demolition waste.
“We’re honoured to help take one of the first steps in transforming our downtown into a differentiated residential and recreational district that serves as a symbol of progressive inner city planning with this conversion,” says James Scott, SVP, Planning and Development, PBA Group of Companies. “We’re proud of our trusted partnership with Concord Hospitality and look forward to continuing the momentum with this novel conversion project which will have a notable impact in the community.”
Demolition is completed, with construction now underway, and project completion slated for the summer of 2025.
