Simpsons Sears

This Site Is Significant Because....

The Building Represents The Beginning Of A Shift In Large-Format Commercial And Retail Activities From The Downtown Commercial Core To The Burgeoning Suburban Areas Of Calgary That Were Developing In The Late 1950S And Early 1960; The Calgary Centre Complex (Later North Hill Shopping Centre) Was The First Enclosed Mall In Calgary (Activity Value - City-Wide Significance)

The Building Is An Excellent Example Of Modern Architecture That Was Popular In Calgary At The Time, And Is Representative Of A Corporate Design Type Utilized By The Simpsons Sears Organization In Many Of Its Stores Of The Time. The Simple But High-Quality Finishing Materials Of The Building Are Characteristic Of The Modern-Style Approach. (Style Value - City-Wide Significance)

The Building Has A Boxlike Design With Its Large Mass Divided Into Several Different Modules To Create A More Interesting And Articulated Composition; The Minimal Use Of Windows And Large Floor Spaces Create A Mechanically Controlled Environment (Heating, Lighting). This Large -Scale Retail Format Was A First In Calgary. (Design Value - City-Wide Significance)

The Building Is A Well-Known Landmark In Calgary, And Particularly In The Northwest Area, Given Its High-Profile Location At The Intersection Of Two Busy Roadways, 14 Street Nw And 16 Avenue Nw And Its Inclusion In Calgary's First Shopping Centre Outside The Downtown Area (Landmark Value - City-Wide Significance)

The Building And The Associated Shopping Centre Represented A New Era In Growth In Calgary's Post-War Years; The Surge In Population And The Resultant Expansion In Suburban Development Saw A Demand For Large-Format Commercial Centres Conveniently Located Near New Residential Areas, Outside Of The Downtown Core (Symbolic Value - City-Wide Significance)