The Core Shopping Centre, which consists of TD Square, the Holt Renfrew building, and the former CalgaryEaton Centre, is the dominant shopping complex located in the downtown core of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It spans three city blocks and contains approximately 160 retailers on four levels. The property also contains four major office towers and the historic Lancaster Building. It is the hub of downtown Calgary's +15skywalk system, and as such is the busiest shopping centre in the City by pedestrian count, with around 250,000 visitors passing through each week. The centre's architectural focal point is a vast suspended glass skylight which spans the length of the complex. As of October 29, 2010, The Core offers free evening and weekend parking at its underground lots. The Core is bounded by 8th Avenue SW on the south, 7th Avenue SW on the north, and extends above 3rd Street SW and 4th Street SW. The mall is directly connected to the neighbouring retail complexes of Bankers Hall and Scotia Centre/Hudson's Bay Store via the +15 skywalk system. It also contains the Devonian Gardens, a unique glass-enclosed indoor botanical park, which reopened to the public on July 27, 2012 after a complete renovation.
History
The T. Eaton Co. opened its original Calgary department store on the site in 1929. In 1977, it was joined by TD Square to the east. TD Square, an office and shopping complex, covered four levels over an entire block and contained the original Devonian Gardens indoor botanical garden. In 1990, Eaton's store was relocated into a new building one block west and a four-level shopping centre, the Calgary Eaton Centre, was built on its original site. Following the closure of the Eaton's chain in 2002, Sears acted as an anchor store until 2008 when it was closed to make way for Holt Renfrew's expansion. The combination of the two centres resulted in the property being rebranded “The Core”, however the property is still referred to as "The Core - TD Square".
Redevelopment
The centre underwent a three-year, multimillion-dollar redevelopment project, which was completed in 2011. The redevelopment unified the complex under a continuous, suspended glass skylight. The skylight, completed in November 2009, is the largest point-supported structural glass skylight in the world. It creates the feel of an outdoor streetscape on the third floor, which incorporates two-storey retail facades with exterior-grade materials. Heavy construction work forced numerous retailers to close or relocate during the renovation, most of which have renovated or expanded. The renovation also widened the concourses, replaced all interior finishes and facilities, expanded the food court and added a structural glass bridge on the fourth floor of the complex. It also added several 'living green walls' near the entrances to the Devonian Gardens space. In 2009, WestNet City Wi-Fi blanketed the centre with Wi-Fi.
Luxury Goods & Apparel
The Core Shopping Centre is Calgary's destination for high-end luxury goods and apparel. Brooks Brothers contains the only Canadian locations for the 'Black Fleece' designer shop and 'Fleece' for boys and girls.
