Rental revitalization: Onyx to add to Downtown West's residences

Calgary’s ambitious effort to breathe new life into its downtown core is taking shape thanks to a series of incentive programs implemented by the City of Calgary. Case in point is Onyx, a 30-storey purpose-built mixed-use rental development in Downtown West, rising on a site once occupied by vacant low-rise office and commercial buildings.

Developed by Edmonton-based Cantiro in conjunction with a group of private investors, Onyx broke ground in August and is being billed as the first project to move forward with support from the city of Calgary’s Downtown Office Demolition Incentive Program.

“The groundbreaking marks an important milestone for Onyx and for Calgary’s downtown. For Cantiro, this project is about more than adding homes; it’s about investing in the long-term future of Downtown West Calgary and helping create the kind of complete, vibrant urban environment that growing cities need,” says Paul Fereday, executive vice-president, multi-family, at Cantiro.

The Downtown Office Demolition Incentive Program is part of the city of Calgary’s broader strategy to reshape downtown by removing underused office space and encouraging new housing, amenities and mixed-use development. The downtown incentive programs are intended to create a more active, diverse and resilient urban core.

Located adjacent to plenty of amenities including the Bow River pathway network, Eau Claire, the 6 ^th Street S.W. CTrain station, and the historic McDougall Centre with its impressive Beaux-Arts architecture and expansive gardens, Onyx replaces four vacant low-rise office and commercial buildings, three of which were included in the application for the city’s demolition incentive program. The new development will contribute 315 new rental homes, more than 13,000 sq. ft. of street-level commercial activity, and a connected urban living experience to Calgary’s downtown core. A future connection to Calgary’s Plus-15 network is expected to add another layer of connectivity.

The mixed-use tower will embrace contemporary architecture with urban and refined undertones demonstrating a strong vertical presence that includes experiential materiality on the street-level podium and an extensive window wall system on the tower portion.

Cantiro says that the vision for Onyx reflects a refined, contemporary identity that aligns with the project’s bold architectural direction and urban character. “Like the stone, the name suggests strength, polish and permanence, which fits the project’s role as a long-term investment in Downtown West Calgary,” says Fereday.

The residences will include one-bedroom, one-bedroom plus den, two-bedroom and executive suites with commanding city and mountain views. Some will have balconies, while others are planned with expansive floor-to-ceiling glass. Final suite sizes and details will be released as leasing plans are finalized.

Wellness, fitness spaces and social gathering spaces, including a 26th floor amenity lounge with both northern views and western mountain views, along with a dog park, a climbing wall, golf simulators and saunas are part of the project’s overall plan.

“Onyx has been planned with an amenity-rich resident experience that supports the way people live, work and connect to the greater downtown community,” says Jamie Weikum, director of multifamily development at Cantiro.

The project is intended to appeal to a broad range of downtown renters, rather than being positioned exclusively as either a luxury or affordable building. “It’s curated to provide a high-quality rental choice in a connected downtown location,” says Weikum.

Onyx also places an emphasis on street-level interaction, although the eventual retail tenants have not yet been selected. The roughly 13,000 sq. ft. of retail space will accommodate grocery and dining, along with shops and services, creating another reason for people to linger in the neighbourhood, rather than just passing through it.

Onyx joins Cantiro’s portfolio of purpose-built rental and mixed-use projects across Canada, while marking its first tower project in Calgary. Cantiro is also developing and building in both Arbour Lake and Livingston in Calgary.

Construction on Onyx is expected to be completed in late 2028.