Located on Calgary’s historic 8th Avenue SW, the Merchant Bank Building is a designated Heritage Resource that required thoughtful upgrades to accommodate a new multi-tenant occupancy. The project involved a twofold scope: assessing the building’s code compliance and suitability for modern tenancies, and carefully modifying the heritage façade to add a second entrance that would enable separate access to the ground floor retail and second floor office spaces.

Our team conducted a comprehensive code review, balancing modern life-safety requirements with the preservation of the building’s character-defining elements. Working closely with City officials and the Heritage Planner, we successfully negotiated a solution to rebuild the original front basement stair and enhance fire detection measures—avoiding intrusive structural interventions while ensuring public safety.

The addition of a new exterior entrance was achieved through sensitive heritage design, allowing the existing vestibule—an essential heritage feature—to remain unaltered while improving functionality and security for tenants.

This project exemplifies how heritage assets can be adapted to meet contemporary commercial needs while preserving their architectural legacy and cultural value.