The growth of Calgary remained as strong as ever in 2022, according to a year-end summary of the construction and developments industry published by the City last week.
According to the data, 18,855 building permits were issued in 2022, which had a total construction value of $5.5B. Although slightly lower than the 21,055 building permits issued in 2021, with a total construction value of $5.7B, 2022's totals were still well above the 10-year median of 16,598 reported by the City last year.
The 2022 dip can be attributed to a decrease in building permits for single-detached and semi-detached homes, which fell 2% year over year to 5,418 permits, but they remained 32% higher than the five-year average. Commercial multi-family projects, on the other hand, saw an increase of 9% compared to 2021 numbers.
Calgary City Council approved over $375M worth of new community investments last year, which the City says will help accommodate nearly 490,000 people over the next 20 to 30 years, as Calgary -- and Alberta at large -- continue to see an influx of Canadians migrating from other provinces like British Columbia.
According to Statistics Canada data published in December, Alberta saw a net gain of 19,285 people from interprovincial migration in Q3 2022. This marked the highest net gain in a third quarter since 1980, and occurred simultaneously with BC's first-ever net loss in any quarter in nearly a decade.
"Last year was another great year for Calgary's development and construction industry despite challenges such as skilled labour shortages, high material costs and limited availability of supplies and equipment," the City said.
"The City processed a large volume of permit applications and inspections in 2022," added Ulrik Seward, Manager of Business and Building Safety. "To support the growing demand we’ve realigned planning and approvals expertise, inspection services, and business supports into cross-functional teams to deliver upon and improve service delivery."
That support, the City says, includes making areas "development ready" by investing in surrounding infrastructure, such as transportation access, fire stations, and more.
A municipal benchmark report published by the Canadian Home Builder's Association earlier this month found that Calgary had one of the faster development approval speeds in the country, with timelines nearly three times faster than those in Vancouver.
READ: Vancouver Approves Developments Nearly Three Times Slower Than Calgary
In 2022, several notable and impactful developments completed construction and were issued occupancy. According to the City of Calgary, these were the top 5 by construction value:
1. The Calgary Cancer Centre
A rendering of the Calgary Cancer Centre. (Dialog Design)
Construction Value: $868.3M
Location: 1403 29 Street NW (Foothills Medical Centre)
The largest government infrastructure project in the province, the keys to the building were handed over to Alberta Health Services in early December, although the facilities are not scheduled to open to the public until 2024.
Once ready to open, the 13-storey state-of-the-art facility will be equipped with 160 in-patient beds, 100 exam rooms, 100 chemotherapy chairs, 12 radiation treatment vaults, wet and dry research labs, a clinical trials unit, and a variety of other support services.
2. Amazon YYC4 Project Maverick Warehouse
Amazon YYC4 Project Maverick warehouse. (Panattoni)
Construction Value: $400M
Location: 6635 106 Avenue SE
Known as YYC4, Amazon's new warehouse facility is located within the Shepard Industrial neighbourhood of Calgary, just a bit off of Stoney Trail SE, and is an estimated 2.6M square feet. It was developed by California-based Panattoni and was contracted to Ledcor Construction.
3. Curtis Block (BLVD Beltline)
Curtis Block. (One Properties)
Construction Value: $165.3M
Location: 209 12 Avenue SE
The most expensive residential development on the list, Curtis Block is a multi-phased mixed-use project that spans across a 2.57-acre site in the Beltline neighbourhood of Calgary.
Developed by One Properties, the project -- also referred to as BLVD Beltline -- has completed its first phase, which consists of two buildings and a total of 628 units. A third building is reportedly being considered at the moment.
4. West Village Towers
The West Village Towers. (Cidex Group)
Construction Value: $118.7M
Location: 850 11th Street SW
Developed by Calgary-based Cidex Group, the West Village Towers are located on the western edge of Downtown Calgary near Shaw Millennium Park.
The entire project will consist of three high-rises once fully complete, with the two 42-storey residential buildings -- 587 units in total -- complete as of Spring 2022 and a full amenity building currently on the way, according to NORR, the architects of the project.
5. Eleven
Eleven on 11th Street SW. (Intergulf Development Group)
Construction Value: $95.3M
Location: 1055 11 Street SW
Also located in the Beltline -- near the intersection of 11 Street SW and 11 Avenue SW -- Eleven is a 44-storey rental building with 369 units developed by Vancouver-based Intergulf Development Group.
Intergulf says Eleven is currently 80% leased, and residents not only have access to the building's amenities, but can also take advantage of its prime location, which is in close proximity to numerous retailers, restaurants, galleries, and parks.
