by Scott White
Improvements
Improvements to the site consist of a structure originally completed in 1913, which has been restored, with an addition completed in 1983. The addition is on the west wall and together with the new top floor brings the building to 82,487 square feet.
a) Basement
Some Mechanical Services
Located on the southwest corner of Macleod Trail and 8th Avenue South, The Burns Building is a prominent landmark of the east end of the downtown core. It was built in 1913 and is designated as a historical site.
The property is within easy walking distance from most downtown attractions and is a popular focal point after civic occasions and events at the Centre for Performing Arts.
Adjacent to the site to the west is the Calgary Centre for Performing Arts, to the east the City of Calgary Municipal Building, and to the north the Olympic Plaza. The nearest office building is the 15 storey Rocky Mountain Plaza containing 193,867 square feet office and retail space and 99 parking stalls. To the southwest is the Natural Resources Building with 104,000 square feet of office space. Most prominent properties in this area are used for Civic or Government purposes.
The city’s Light Rail Transit (LRT travels the length of the core along 7th Avenue and has northbound and southbound stations within one block of the property. The site anchors the east end of the Eighth Avenue pedestrian mall called The Stephen Avenue Mall. Macleod Trail is the main thoroughfare south and the site therefore enjoys considerable exposure to downtown traffic.
The building was restored to the original finish and a canopy added over the first floor that matches the building’s original canopy. The exterior wall consists of a precast concrete panel with horizontal scoring to match the coloring of the original structure. The cornice and parapet were rebuilt to the exact specifications. Windows on the exterior were replaced in 1982, and match the additions. The building frame is concrete and the flat roof is built-up tar and gravel with a wood deck. Specific descriptions of the subject floors are:
This level has a gross area of 9,622 square feet. The elevator lobby, together with the existing original stairs, form the main internal transportation core. There is a mail room of the elevator lobby. On the east wall is a second stairway and the balance of utility services, two washrooms, janitor room, delivery area, and a third stairway along the south wall.
b) Ground Floor
The floor has an open atrium in the centre and two service cores. The retail areas are on the two street exposures and there is access into the Performing Arts Center on the west wall.
c) Mezzanine
The Mezzanine is situated along the south end of the building running east-west. The stairs from the atrium stop at the mezzanine level. Access to the plus 15 bridge which leads to City Hall is on this level.
d) Second to Sixth Floor
These are typical floors with the office space surrounding the central atrium. On the north wall is the service core with two elevators and a stairwell. The service core on the south wall has washrooms, stairs, utility and mechanical rooms. The rentable areas are primarily along the east and west exterior walls with the open atrium in the center.
e) Penthouse
The penthouse is set back from the west, north and east exterior walls thus forming a smaller floor. The areas between the penthouse walls and the building is covered with a wood deck. There is access from the penthouse floor to the deck.
Above picture and article was submitted by Scott White, operations manager at the Burns Buildings for Triumph Management Ltd. Scott welcomes any comments or questions you have. You can reach Scott at 403-269-1177.
First published May 1998
