Alberta Court of Appeal

Calgary Courthouse No. 2 is a large, rectangular two-storey building with an extensive basement. It has a steel frame superstructure and a sandstone facade. Built from 1912 to 1914, the building embodies the Neoclassical Revival style and features an ornate central entrance with an entablature flanked by relatively simple wings. Its main entry doors, with their elaborate fittings and bronze inlays have been reconstructed and its central flagpole has been replaced. Calgary Courthouse No. 2 is an outstanding example of courthouse design in Alberta and represents one of the last monumental buildings built by the province in its early years of development. Designed in the Neoclassical Revival style during a period of budgetary restraint, Courthouse No. 2 has an elegant yet restrained appearance. Features of the style include the symmetrical facades, cornice with dentils and corbels, and embellished central portico. It has a steel frame superstructure supporting exterior walls of smooth-faced sandstone on a plinth of rough-hewn granite blocks. The sandstone used was mainly from local quarries supplemented with stone imported from Ohio. The courthouse was the last major building in Calgary to use local sandstone. The building's symmetrical front facade features two austere wings flanking an ornamented front portico. Above the front doorway is the provincial crest carved in sandstone. The interior of the courthouse is designed in a cross-axial pattern. Despite renovations, it retains some original elements, such as the front foyer, the central marble staircase, most interior doors and portions of the terrazzo floor. CHARACTER-DEFINING ELEMENTS Key elements that define Calgary Courthouse No. 2's heritage value include its: Exterior: - location on the city block housing the continuous presence of judicial facilities since 1888; - rectangular plan, low elevations, and symmetrical facades; - horizontal lines accentuated by bands of regularly spaced window openings; - steel frame supporting structure; - use of smooth sandstone blocks on most of the exterior facade; - plinth of rough-hewn granite blocks; - austere appearance; - moderately decorated centrally located portico accessed by wide stone staircase; - cornice with dentils and corbels; - continuous arch over front doorway; - provincial crest in stone over the front doorway; - twin Tuscan order columns; - uncarved nameplate; - parapet along entire roofline; - wrought iron lampposts and door lamps. Interior: - axial pattern layout; - location and size of front foyer; - original wooden interior doors; - central marble grand staircase; - portions of the original terrazzo floor.

Located on 26th floor of TC Energy. No signage inside or outside of building indicating the Court of Appeal is there. It’s like they don’t want the public to be able to find it!