Francesco

Mixed Use

Calgary, Alberta

Design Requirements

Located at the intersection of 17th Avenue SW and 5A Street SW in the Cliff Bungalow community, this sixteen-storey mixed-use development is designed as a landmark for both the Beltline and Cliff Bungalow neighbourhoods. The building is organized with a six-storey podium supporting a sixteen-storey tower, achieving the site’s highest and best-use floor area ratio and density. The project comprises 209 residential units, including one- to four-bedroom suites and townhomes, along with approximately 7,600 square feet of rentable commercial space that supports local businesses and daily neighbourhood needs while reinforcing the mixed-use character of the corridor.

A strategic planning and density approach carefully aligned with both City objectives and client goals enabled a successful UDRP and CPC approval process and was supported by meaningful community engagement throughout the design and approval phases. The massing strategy responds to the surrounding context by stepping down toward adjacent residential streets, while active retail and commercial frontages along 17th Avenue SW animate the public realm through spill-out patios, integrated public art, enhanced landscaping, and pedestrian-oriented design. Residential access is intentionally oriented to 5A Street SW, a quieter and more residential edge, providing a clear separation between public and private realms and ensuring a thoughtful balance between urban activation, privacy, and long-term livability for residents.

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