A once-vacant office tower in the heart of Downtown West has been transformed into Calgary’s newest hospitality destination. Element Calgary Downtown, located at 833 4 Ave S.W., officially opens its doors today, marking the completion of Calgary’s first-ever office-to-hotel conversion under The City’s downtown development incentive program.
Once home to Mount Royal College, local developer PBA Group of Companies partnered with Concord Hospitality to reimagine 170,000 square feet of office space, converting it into 226 modern hotel suites and downtown’s newest dining experience, Bow and Bend Rooftop Bar & Lounge.
The hotel conversion is supported by the Downtown Calgary Development Incentive which offers eligible projects up to $60 per square foot for the conversion of unused office space for hotel use.
“The Element Hotel is a powerful example of what downtown revitalization can look like,” said Mayor Jyoti Gondek. “As Calgary’s first office-to-hotel conversion, it reflects our commitment to breathing new life into the core and creating dynamic, mixed-use spaces that bring people and energy back downtown.”
Located on the west end of Calgary’s downtown core, with easy access to transit and proximity to the Bow River, multi-use pathways and the Revitalize 8 Street S.W. public realm improvement project, the Element Calgary Downtown will create a stronger community by establishing a lively hospitality hub.
“Calgary is quickly earning a global reputation for bold revitalization and forward-thinking development,” says Patricia Phillips, CEO, PBA Group of Companies. “Our newest development, Element Calgary Downtown, is a testament to what’s possible when innovation meets collaboration. Through our partnership with the City of Calgary and its Downtown Development Incentive Program, we’ve transformed vacant office space into a vibrant new hospitality experience. The Element Hotel not only offers guests something truly unique, it injects fresh energy into our downtown core and helps shape Calgary’s evolution as a dynamic, future-ready city. We’re excited to officially open our doors and welcome a new group of guests to Calgary’s downtown West End, as we continue to lead the way in building community and driving positive change across the city.”
Designed with sustainability in mind, the eco-conscious Element Calgary Downtown strengthens Calgary’s downtown hospitality offerings at a time when demand for centrally located accommodations is growing. The conversion adds valuable hotel inventory to support major events, conferences, and tourism—benefitting nearby restaurants, shops, and cultural attractions.
“The opening of The Element Calgary Downtown is another exciting signal of the growth and momentum of the visitor economy in Calgary,” says Alisha Reynolds, President and CEO of Tourism Calgary. “This new hotel is a prime example of how sustainability is reshaping how we meet the increasing demand for high-quality travel accommodation. We’re thrilled to welcome this addition to Calgary’s vibrant hotel landscape right in the heart of our city.”
To date, the Downtown Calgary Development Incentive is supporting 21 office conversion projects, transforming more than 2.68 million square feet of underutilized office space into 2,628 new homes, 226 hotel rooms, and a hostel. Learn more about how the City and its partners are shaping a greater downtown at calgary.ca/DTS.
About The City of Calgary’s Downtown Strategy: Downtown is the economic and cultural heart of Calgary. It’s our central hub for business, innovation, and creativity. Calgary needs a strong core to grow our economy, create jobs and fund the City services we rely on every day. We are working to address the challenges downtown is facing and transform vacancy to vibrancy.
About PBA Group of Companies PBA Group of Companies: (PBA) is a Calgary based, women owned and led real estate firm with over 60 years of experience delivering integrated commercial real estate solutions. Guided by a vision to build communities through shared values and inspired placemaking, PBA continues to shape urban landscapes. In 2022, PBA launched its hospitality portfolio with The Dorian, a $125 million, dual-brand Marriott Autograph Collection and Courtyard hotel recognized globally with a Michelin Key for its design, culinary excellence, and guest experience. Expanding on this success, PBA will open its third hotel, Element Calgary Downtown, in Summer 2025 as part of its partnership with the City of Calgary’s Downtown Development Incentive Program, which supports the revitalization of underutilized office space. PBA remains committed to creating vibrant, future focused communities that reimagine how people live, work, and stay.
About Concord Hospitality: Concord Hospitality is an award-winning hotel development and management company that has grown over the past four decades to become the preferred partner of leading hotel brands such as Hilton, Marriott, and Hyatt. Concord Hospitality boasts a stellar reputation known for combining the experience of a big company with the high-touch service of an independent operation to every partner property. The company specializes in developing and managing full-service and select-service hotels across North America. As part of the company’s continued growth, it recently launched Opus Collection by Concord, a lifestyle hotel management division for full-service properties. With the brightest talent, the most innovative processes, and a commitment to giving back to the communities where associates live and work, Concord Hospitality is committed to being a great place to work for all. Learn more at concordhotels.com
