The Inglewood neighbourhood in central Calgary may be a quirky spot for art galleries and eclectic dining, but it’s also known for attracting office tenants to modern developments as part of the area's evolution beyond a 19th-century industrial heritage.
Last year, landlord Pason Systems, a Calgary-based energy services and technology company, signed engineering consulting firm Pasquini & Associates to a 28,000‑square‑foot lease at 1011 Ninth Ave. SE, also known as the Atlantic Avenue Art Block building.
The 181,000-square-foot mixed-use property opened in 2011 as a “landmark space for the public to experience contemporary art,” according to its website. The building houses retail space as well as the Esker Foundation, one of Calgary’s premier galleries that offers exhibitions and programming.
Pasquini became the building's ninth-largest tenant under a deal that shows the appeal culture has when it comes to commercial property leasing. Furthermore, it reflects momentum in the city’s professional services industry.
A panel of Calgary real estate professionals voted the transaction as the winner of the 2026 CoStar Impact Award for lease of the year in Calgary.
About the project: Inglewood, at the confluence of the Elbow and Bow rivers, is Calgary’s oldest area, established in 1875, preceding the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway. It’s located less than 4 kilometres east of downtown.
What the judges said: “The size and scope of this deal was really the most impactful,” said Novy Cheema, president and CEO, University of Calgary Properties Group.
“A very sizeable lease in a very small submarket that is thought of more as niche retail than large-scale office,” said Michelle Pink, principal and regional leader for global tax services and software provider Ryan.
“This building and neighbourhood is already culturally vibrant and very mixed-use, so it is good to see this type of location being attractive to office users, providing an alternative to the typical [central business district] experience,” said Thom Slater, a research associate with Savills.
They made it happen: NAI Advent Vice President Chris Howard represented both sides in this lease transaction.