Source: Strategic Group
The biggest production in Alberta’s history debuted on January 15, and is now crowned as HBO's second largest premiere to date! HBO’s post-apocalyptic series The Last of Us filmed at several Calgary locations, including our newest office-to-residential conversion project, the Barron Building.
The Last of Us takes place 20 years after modern civilization has been destroyed. Joel, a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie, a 14-year-old girl, out of an oppressive quarantine zone. What starts as a small job soon becomes a brutal, heartbreaking journey, as they both must traverse the U.S. and depend on each other for survival.
The Barron Building was used for many shots in the new series, after being covered in post-apocalyptic zombie-friendly elements and props. The building was almost unrecognizable the summer of 2022, with many passersby stopping to check out the incredible set design. Fans of the show can look forward to searching for many Alberta-based set locations, including the Barron Building, UPTEN, Mount Royal University, the Fourth Avenue flyover and SAIT.
Now that the show has wrapped up filming, Strategic Group can continue converting this historic building into residential rental apartments. The building, which was Calgary’s first skyscraper built in 1950, is set to open in its doors to renters in 2024. At the core of a vibrant downtown, the Barron Building continues to make history in Calgary.