AltaGas recently completed a six-floor transformation of its Calgary headquarters at 701 Fifth Avenue Place, where Zeidler Architecture partnered with Colliers Workplace Strategy to rework the tower’s curved floorplate to support hybrid work, equitable access to daylight, and a more connected workplace culture. Spanning more than 130,000 sq. ft. across Levels 10 through 15, the project demonstrates how legacy downtown office environments can be strategically replanned to support evolving organizational needs while translating workplace strategy into everyday spatial experience.
The project was named Best of Canada in the Shaw Contract Design Awards 2025.
Occupying an elliptical tower floorplate that could have easily produced fragmented planning conditions, the design instead uses curvature as an organizing framework. Planning modules create consistency across the six levels, improving navigation and spatial clarity while allowing the workplace to adapt over time as organizational needs evolve.
A new internal stair connects all six floors, transforming vertical circulation into a social and visual connector between teams. Rather than functioning only as infrastructure, the stair anchors shared amenities—including meeting areas, informal collaboration zones, and social spaces—helping unify what might otherwise have remained separate workplace environments into a single connected headquarters.
“The project shows how existing tower workplaces can be re-planned to better support how people work today,” said Ian Franceschi, Associate and Creative Director at Zeidler Architecture. “Rather than applying a single workplace model across six floors, the design introduces a flexible planning framework that supports both collaboration and focused work within an existing downtown tower environment while strengthening connection between teams.”
Access to daylight and views was distributed across the workplace rather than concentrated in perimeter offices. Collaborative spaces, support functions, and individual work settings were planned to ensure that a wide range of employees benefit from natural light and shared amenities, reinforcing a more equitable workplace experience.
Circulation throughout the workplace was designed to support both interaction and focus. Informal meeting points encourage spontaneous exchange between departments, while quieter perimeter routes provide alternative paths for movement that support concentration, privacy, and neurodiverse work preferences.
The workplace supports approximately 550 employees in a hybrid work environment through a scalable planning strategy that balances enclosed offices, open work areas, collaboration settings, and wellness spaces. Support functions typically located deep within the building core, including IT services and mail facilities, were integrated into visible circulation zones, reinforcing the role of operational teams within the broader workplace culture.
Material selections reinforce AltaGas’ renewed workplace identity through warm wood tones, refined lighting, textured finishes, and a restrained natural palette designed for longevity and adaptability. Acoustic strategies—including glazed office fronts, ceiling treatments, and material transitions—support a range of working styles across both collaborative and focused environments.
About Zeidler Architecture
Zeidler is a leading Canadian architecture and interior design practice with a portfolio of award-winning work that fosters social engagement, facilitates excellence, and delivers lasting value. The firm believes that architecture should enrich lives and strengthen communities. Driven by curiosity and guided by evidence, its designers embrace innovation in sustainability, accessibility, design theory, and materiality, working closely with clients and communities to design resilient environments that foster connection, promote well-being, and achieve long-term impact.
