The iconic, unique Canadian Pacific Railway Pavilion, a landmark in the heart of downtown Calgary, is for sale, the Herald has learned.
“We can confirm that CP’s Calgary Pavilion is currently listed for sale, but have no further comment beyond that,” said a company spokesperson in an email.
Commercial real estate firm CBRE Limited has the listing for the property located at 201 9th Ave. S.W., which is connected to the Fairmont Palliser Hotel. The listing, at $11 million, says the 39,442-square-foot building has ample natural light, vaulted ceilings and skylight features. It is equipped with a commercial kitchen, multiple offices and boardrooms.
“That’s a high prestige corner. I think if you ask anyone, they know this facility,” said Susan Thompson, research manager for Calgary Economic Development. “(There’s) a lot of traffic. Obviously you’ve got a fairly high-quality hotel just across the street. So anybody downtown who has attended an event knows it and it’s attached to (the Palliser).
The CP Railway Pavilion is listed for $11 million and features a commercial kitchen, offices and a boardrooms.
Lorraine Hjalte /
Calgary Herald
“It’s set up as an event centre. I could see either a hotel or an event facility utilizing it. I could see sort of a conference-type facility. I could see a restaurant possibly taking interest in it. It does have a kitchen and dining area. Retail would be a stretch but someone could do it.”
Asked if it could work as an office space, Thompson said “it would be a pretty funky office. You’re right on the street right above the tracks there” over 1st Street S.W.
Construction on the Pavilion began in late 1998 and the landmark opened February 2000.
“Building the Pavilion was a project we have been waiting to get off the ground for some time,” said David Walker, the managing director of CPR’s Royal Canadian Pacific, in a Herald story in June 2000. “The Pavilion allows us to shelter vintage cars from the extremities, and it also gives us the ability to better service our clients. We invested $6 million in the Pavilion, and it houses eight vintage cars.”
The facility served as a new dining and reception venue and the launch site for the Royal Canadian Pacific luxury rail service.
“A 12 meter high glass rotunda with beautiful marble floors is the centerpiece of this unique meeting space. At the west end is the Great Hall, a 152 m wing that houses the Royal Canadian Pacific train when it is in Calgary. The Canadian Pacific Railway Pavilion can accommodate up to 80 people for seated dining and 200 people for receptions. Catering services are provided by The Fairmont Palliser Hotel,” says the Royal Canadian Pacific website.
Thompson said the Pavilion would be CP’s last real estate holding in the downtown. The company has moved its main office from the Gulf Canada Square to Ogden. Earlier this year it was announced that Calgary-based Aspen Properties purchased the downtown office tower formerly known as Encana Place, kitty corner to the Pavilion, from 1731325 Alberta Ltd., on behalf of Encana and CP Rail.
“This is entirely an event facility,” said Thompson of the Pavilion. “That’s not their core business operations.”
mtoneguzzi@calgaryherald.com