BARRON
HISTORY OF THE BARRON
The Barron Building stands as one of Calgary’s most iconic landmarks and as a symbol of Calgary’s transformation into Canada’s energy capital.
Originally commissioned by lawyer and developer Jacob Bell Barron and completed in 1951, the building was designed by architect Jack Cawston of Cawston & Stevenson. Its construction followed Alberta’s 1947 oil discovery at Leduc No. 1, marking the dawn of Calgary’s modern era.
As the city’s first skyscraper, the Barron Building introduced “Art Moderne” and early Modernist architecture to downtown Calgary. Its buff brick façade, polished black granite base, Tyndall limestone accents, and vertically emphasized windows gave it a sleek, forward-looking aesthetic. Inside, it featured Calgary’s first mixed-use design — combining offices, retail, and the beloved Uptown Theatre with a private penthouse suite for the Barron family.
Throughout the 1950s and ’60s, the Barron Building became home to major oil companies such as Sun Oil, Shell and Mobil Oil, earning it the nickname “The Mobil Oil Building.” Its presence helped anchor Calgary’s westward downtown expansion and established the city as the headquarters of Canada’s oil industry.
Over time, the building aged and was even listed among Canada’s Top 10 Endangered Places by the National Trust for Canada in 2012. Recognizing its heritage value, Strategic Group acquired the Barron Building and began an ambitious project to restore and revitalize it. The redevelopment will preserve its historic façade and distinctive architectural features while transforming the tower into modern residential rental suites with ground-level retail.
Today, the Barron Building represents a bridge between Calgary’s pioneering past and its bold future — a lasting testament to innovation, resilience, and the enduring spirit of the city.
A CITY TRANSFORMED
1902
Oil is discovered in Alberta
1912
The first Calgary Stampede is held; Barron is admitted to the Law Society of Alberta
Jacob Bell Barron moves to Calgary
1911
Oil deposits are discovered in Turner Valley
1914
The Glenmore Dam is constructed
1932
1947
The famous Leduc No. 1 well strikes oil. The Mayor of Edmonton, is invited to the official ceremony to turn the taps
Barron develops a plan to draw oil companies to set up shop in Calgary rather than Edmonton
1948
1949
Local architects are tasked with designing the first new office building in the city in over a decade, combining traditional limestone with revolutionary modern aluminum and art deco motifs
1951
International oil companies move into the Barron Building, establishing Calgary as the centre of Canada's oil industry
Population Growth
1911
An estimated 43,704 people live in Calgary
1958
The Barron Building is renamed 'The Mobil Oil Building' after it's most prominent tenant
Barron's private penthouse and rooftop gardens wins the vincent massey urban planning award
1954
The University of Calgary is founded
1966
The downtown core's extensive +15 walkway system opens
1970
1967
Construction is completed on the iconic Calgary tower
Calgary hosts the 15th Winter Olympic Games
1988
1981
Calgary's light transit system begins operation
1989
Calgary Flames win their first Stanley Cup
8th Avenue is designated a national historical site of Canada
1992
2002
The Barron Building is names one of the most significant provincial structures by the Alberta Association of Architects
Strategic Group acquires the Barron Building
2009
1956
Population grows to 179,711 People
1989
Population reaches 675,000 people
1996
Population grows to 822,221 people
Population swells to 1,079,310 people
2008
2015
1,213,839 people call the Calgary area home
TODAY
Redeveloping and repurposing is commenced, reestablishing this iconic address