Originally called theHusky Tower, it was conceived as a joint venture between Marathon Realty Company Limited andHusky Oilas part of anurban renewalplan and to celebrate Canada'scentennialof 1967. The tower was built at a cost of$3,500,000 Canadian Dollars and weighs approximately 10,884 tonnes, of which 60% is below ground. It opened to the public on June 30, 1968, as the tallest structure in Calgary, and the tallest in Canada outside Toronto. It was renamed the Calgary Tower in 1971.