![](http://www.centrongroup.com/sites/default/files/news-header.jpg)
![](http://www.centrongroup.com/sites/default/files/news-header.jpg)
Massive Place 10 tower displays Centron's vision
- Oct 07, 2014
- allison
BY DAVID PARKER, CALGARY HERALD
Centron Group has begun construction of its 620,000-squarefoot Place 10 office/retail complex on the north side of 10th Avenue between 4th and 5th Streets S.W., directly across the street from its Centre 10 building.
Upon completion it will bring Centron's investment on that block to a million square feet.
Attempts had been made by other developers to construct highrise condominium towers on the former Gaslight Square property on the south side of 10th Avenue, but after lengthy due diligence Centron decided a single, mixed-use development was the best way to bring life to the abandoned site.
Norr Architects was hired to design a 10-storey, 355,000-square-foot building that was built with a great deal of confidence on spec. Centron was right. Good judgment and 30 years of experience paid off again. The new, glass-encased office floors are fully leased and La Prep restaurant and Pampa Brazilian Steakhouse will open in the main floor retail.
Place 10 is another spec development that shows Centron's aggressive confidence in this city. It has been designed by Gibbs Gage Architects with two 14-storey towers above four levels of parking providing 456 stalls.
Wayne Benz, president of Centron's construction group, is overseeing the building of the east tower that will rise above the 4th Street subway offering 318,500 square feet of rentable space with typical floor plates of approximately 25,000 square feet.
They provide plenty of daylight and a stunning rooftop terrace adds to the opportunity to enjoy Calgary's sunshine.
Gibbs Gage partner Vince Dods says the overall design is focused on its relationship to downtown, just steps away through the short underpasses to Bankers Hall, The Core and Eight Avenue Place.
Strip vertical lighting to the top of the building alongside staggered vertical elements make a signature entrance to downtown and the stepped back massing of the plaza level that flows down into a new pedestrian element will do much to make the underpass more attractive.
That area, with its floating pavilion roofs, is expected to welcome a classy restaurant, part of the 10,000 square feet of available retail space in the east tower.
Centron president and COO Cole Harris says approvals are in hand to construct a Plus-15 walkway across 4th Street into the city parkade giving covered access through Gulf Canada Square to Stephen Avenue and LRT stations.
Tenants will reach the elevator banks by way of a two-storey high main lobby. Drivers will enter the parkade from 10th Avenue between the towers, an access that's also the driveway to the loading docks, tucked well away from the visible tower of transparent glazing and metal panels.
Place 10 will be ready to accept tenant improvements by the first quarter of 2017 with occupancy scheduled for the fall of that year. Angus Fraser, John Fisher and
Stuart Watson of CBRE are the exclusive realtors for office leasing.
Centron founder, chairman and CEO Bob Harris has built a strong presence in the downtown and beltline office development, but continues to build high-quality projects in suburban Calgary. Construction was recently completed on its four Class A buildings at Blackfoot Point and Centron has under development Fountain Court Business Park, a 90,000-square-foot office complex on the northeast corner of Glenmore and Blackfoot Trails.
Sports Clips Haircuts for Men is opening its first Alberta hair care experience shop Friday on Macleod Trail in the Kingsland Village. Saturday will see another location opened at Riverbend Centre along 18th Street S.E. Sports Clips was established in the U.S. in 1993 and has become one of the top 20 "fastest growing franchises," according to Entrepreneur magazine. It began its expansion into Canada in 2012.
The company has a mission to create a championship haircut experience for men and boys in an exciting sports-themed environment. Watch large flat screen TVs at every station while enjoying a shampoo, haircut, steamed towel wrap and head and neck massage.
The Calgary locations were leased through Josh Rahme of Avison Young, who is pursuing other good locations. Two more will open early next year, he said.
David Parker app ears Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Read his columns online at CalgaryHerald.com/Business. He can be reached at 403-830-4622 or e-mail info@DavidParker.ca