Originally known as the "Northland Bank Building", today it is the address of a multitude and variety of dynamic businesses. The building is well located in the heart of downtown Calgary. At the present the building boasts an impressive occupancy rate of 98%.
Three years after its official opening in 1981, the building was nominated and won the title of "Building of the year for 1984".  In 1995, a second nomination was received.

ARCHITECTURAL.
In the main lobby and plus 15 level, base and walls are cream colored travertine.  The main floor has been inlaid with black/brown honed travertine.  This floor detail defines different spaces in the lobby.  A wide stair case leading to the plus 15 level has bronze glass and brass ballustrades. Full height bronze windows give the atrium and potted plants full advantage of the sunlight and the building a very elegant appearance.  The tower's exterior finish is a black glass curtain wall with matching spandrel.

TENANCY.
The building consists of 25 office floors and two retail floors of which the 2nd level forms part of the down town Plus 15 system. Total floor area of the building is approximately 180,000 square feet.  520 - 5th Avenue is a multi tenant building.  Currently there are 35 tenants with offices ranging from 5,000 to 25,000 square feet The building is managed by TILLYARD MANAGEMENT INC.

MECHANICAL
Heating
Four Teledyne-Laars gas fired water tube boilers (4 million BTU each) are used for the perimeter heating system.  Floors are divided into seven zones, each of which is controlled by a thermostat and a pneumatic control valve.  Water from the boilers is also used to pre-heat the spray water system, the two main supply air units and various fan coil units in the mechanical rooms and the underground parkade.
Cooling
Chilled water for the cooling system is generated by a Trane centrifugal chiller rated at 400 tons Heat is rejected by two60hp Baltimore Air Coil cooling towers.  "Free cooling" is supplied at temperatures below 12 degrees C. with the help of the cooling towers and a Baltimore shell-and-tube heat exchanger.  This operation is controlled by the Siemens, Landis division, system 600, building automation system.
Air Handling Systems
Each floor has a compartmental unit with cooling coils which supply air to thermostat controlled Variable Air Volume boxes located throughout the floor.
Building Automation System
The building uses Siemens, Landis division, system 600.  It consists of a Modular Building Control (MBC) panel and a network of unitary control panels.  At present the system monitors and controls the start times and proper operation of approximately 400 points.  Other features include:

• Trend data to establish point performance.
• Reports supply- and return air/water temperatures.
• Access from on-site or remote locations.
• Monitor and report point alarms.
• Integrated alarm paging.
• Start/stop control and logical sequencing of:
  • Cooling towers and condenser water pump.
  • Chiller and free cooling.
  • Boilers and the hydronic system.