Stantec Tower

Design and Construction

The design and engineering for Stantec Tower were completed by Stantec itself, with the initial plans unveiled to the public on August 26, 2014. The original proposal called for a 62-storey building reaching 224 metres in height, but the finalized design expanded to 66 storeys and a height of 251 metres. Construction began in the fall of 2014, with foundation work progressing until the structure moved above grade in August 2016. A significant milestone was reached in November 2017 when the project topped out its 30th floor, marking the completion of the commercial and office portions of the tower.

The race for Edmonton's tallest building was a notable aspect of the construction phase. The neighbouring JW Marriott Edmonton Ice District & Residences briefly held the title after reaching its full height of 192.15 metres in March 2018. Just 14 days after that project became the tallest, Stantec Tower had reached its own 30th floor. The competition continued as Stantec Tower added structural steel for its 54th floor on May 23, 2018, achieving a height of 197 metres and officially claiming the title of Edmonton's tallest building. Residential floors were then added at a rate of approximately three metres per week until the tower was fully topped out on November 16, 2018, securing its status as the tallest building in Canada outside Toronto.

The office portion of the tower opened on September 26, 2018, with commercial tenants moving in to occupy 29 floors the following month. Dismantling of the construction crane occurred in March 2019 as work on the residential section, branded as SKY residences, neared completion. The entire tower was completed in 2019, though the residential component saw significant changes. Initially, due to poor sales, the bottom 12 floors of planned condominiums were converted into hotel space in November 2019, with existing purchasers offered upgrades to higher floors. However, a shift in housing demand during the COVID-19 pandemic led to another conversion, and in October 2020, those same 12 floors were changed into rental apartment units.

Architecture and Function

Stantec Tower is a 250.8-metre tall structure with 66 above-ground storeys and four underground levels, functioning as a vertical mixed-use community. The tower's design integrates several distinct uses within its sleek, modern form. The lower portion of the building is dedicated to commercial office space, which occupies 29 floors and houses the global headquarters of Stantec alongside other major corporate tenants. Above the office floors are 454 residential units, which include both condominium and rental apartments following the post-construction adjustments. The building also contains retail space at its base, contributing to the street-level activity of the Ice District.

Its location is integral to its function, situated directly northwest of downtown Edmonton's core and immediately adjacent to Rogers Place arena. This placement makes it a central anchor for the Ice District, one of the largest mixed-use urban development projects in Canada. The tower's height and prominence have made it a defining feature of the Edmonton skyline, visible from across the city. The combination of uses supports a high density of people living and working in the downtown core, which is a key objective for the broader Ice District development.

Major Tenants and Ownership

The tower's commercial space achieved high occupancy, attracting several prominent professional services firms. This strong tenancy led to a significant ownership transaction in September 2019, when Stantec sold the 29 floors of commercial space to Deka Immobilien, a German real estate company and subsidiary of DekaBank. The sale was facilitated by the reliable income from major corporate tenants who had signed long-term leases. The major commercial tenants occupying the tower include a list of leading national and international firms.

• Stantec: The engineering and design firm for which the tower is named maintains its global headquarters in the building.
• PwC Canada: The professional services firm occupies two floors, totalling 4,738 square metres of space.
• Dentons Canada: The law firm leases three full floors (24, 25, and 26), having moved in during the second quarter of 2019.
• DLA Piper: Another major international law firm is also a tenant in the tower.

The concentration of major firms like Stantec, PwC Canada, Dentons Canada, and DLA Piper has established the tower as a central hub for business and professional services in Edmonton. The residential portion of the building is managed separately. The tower contains 454 residential units. In November 2019, the bottom 12 floors of planned residences were converted into hotel space. In October 2020, these 12 floors were converted again into rental units due to shifting residential market demand caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Maintenance and Safety Incidents

In 2021 and 2022, Stantec Tower experienced a series of safety incidents where multiple sections of glass fell from the building onto the surrounding streets and sidewalks. These events raised concerns about the building's facade and the safety of the public in the densely populated Ice District. Following the incidents, the property manager, Ice District Shared Facilities, took corrective action to mitigate the risk and prevent further occurrences. The solution involved installing a protective film on the affected windows to keep the glass securely in place.

This film, described as a plastic layer cut precisely to fit each individual window and its frame, was applied as a temporary safeguard while a permanent repair or replacement strategy was developed. The incidents highlighted the technical challenges of maintaining tall building enclosures in Edmonton's variable climate, which experiences significant temperature swings. They also demonstrated the ongoing maintenance requirements for such large structures to ensure public safety in an urban environment. The installation of the film was a direct response to the specific incidents of falling glass from the tower's facade.

Place in Canadian Skyscrapers

Upon its completion, Stantec Tower immediately assumed a notable position in the rankings of Canada's tallest buildings. At its full height of 250.8 metres (823 feet), it became the seventh-tallest building in the entire country. More significantly, it holds the title of the tallest building in Canada located outside the city of Toronto, Ontario, a distinction that highlights its scale relative to other major Canadian urban centres. The table below shows how Stantec Tower compares to other prominent tall buildings in Canada, based on architectural height to tip.

It achieved this on May 23, 2018, when it reached a construction height of 197 metres. This made it the tallest building in Edmonton. Its construction signalled a new era of high-density, vertical development for Edmonton's downtown core and the ambitious Ice District project. The tower is located near the centre of Ice District directly northwest of Downtown Edmonton.

Role in Ice District and Edmonton

Stantec Tower is the architectural and functional centrepiece of the Ice District, a massive mixed-use development projected to transform downtown Edmonton. The district is named for its proximity to Rogers Place, the home ice of the NHL's Edmonton Oilers, and aims to create a dynamic, year-round urban neighbourhood. The tower's location places it at the heart of this transformation, directly northwest of the traditional downtown core and immediately adjacent to the arena. The development has increased the density of downtown Edmonton, bringing thousands of new residents and office workers into a concentrated area.

The tower's mix of uses exemplifies the district's goal of creating a live-work-play environment. By housing major corporate headquarters alongside hundreds of residential units and street-level retail, it generates continuous activity throughout the day and evening. The presence of Stantec, PwC, and major law firms has also cemented the area as a new central business district, attracting further investment and development to the surrounding blocks. The project represents a significant shift towards higher-density urban living in Alberta's capital city and is a key driver of economic activity in the downtown core.

Questions about Stantec Tower

When did Stantec Tower open?

The office area of the tower opened on September 26, 2018. Employees of commercial tenants began moving in to occupy 29 floors in October 2018. The residential portion opened in 2019. The tower was completed in 2019.

What companies have their offices in Stantec Tower?

The tower houses the headquarters of Stantec. Other major tenants include PwC Canada on two floors and Dentons Canada on three floors. DLA Piper is also a tenant. In September 2019, Stantec sold the 29 floors of commercial space to German real estate company Deka Immobilien.

What is the Ice District and how is the tower connected to it?

Ice District is in the downtown core of Edmonton, Alberta. Stantec Tower is a mixed-use skyscraper in Ice District. The tower is located close to Rogers Place, home of the NHL's Edmonton Oilers. It is near the centre of Ice District directly northwest of Downtown Edmonton.

How tall is Stantec Tower and where does it rank in Canada?

Stantec Tower is 250.8 metres (823 feet) tall. It is a 66 story mixed use skyscraper located in the Ice District of downtown Edmonton, Alberta. The tower is the seventh tallest building in Canada overall. It holds the distinction of being the tallest building in Canada located outside of Toronto, Ontario. This status was confirmed when the tower was fully topped out on November 16, 2018. The building's final height of 250.9 metres was an increase from its initial 2014 design of 224 metres.

Are there places to live in Stantec Tower?

Yes, the 66 storey tower consists of 454 residential units. The residential portion of the tower, known as the SKY residences, opened in 2019. However, in November 2019 it was announced that due to poor sales, the bottom 12 floors of the planned residences would be converted into hotel space. Existing owners in those units were upgraded to higher floors. Subsequently, in October 2020, a shift in residential market demand caused by the COVID 19 pandemic led to the conversion of those same 12 floors into rental units instead.

Has there been any issues with the building's glass?

Yes, there have been maintenance issues with the building's glass. In both 2021 and 2022, multiple sections of glass fell from the building onto the surrounding streets. These incidents posed a safety risk to the area. In response, the building's management, Ice District Shared Facilities, took corrective action. They installed a protective film on the windows, which was described as a plastic film cut to fit each window and frame. This measure was implemented to keep the glass securely in place.

Sources and further reading

• Stantec Tower (Wikipedia)
• Stantec Tower (avisonyoung.ca)
• Stantec Tower Case Study: Demonstrating Canderel's ... (canderel.com)

Checked by the Your Space Hamilton desk. Last updated 2026-10-22.