The Elveden Centre was the first modern skyscraper to be built in Calgary. The middle tower, called Elveden House, was completed first in 1960 and at 20 storeys, it was the tallest building in the city until the Calgary Tower was built. An old city by-law restricting the height of buildings to 12 storeys had to be changed before construction could go ahead.

The 14-storey east tower was next to be completed in 1961. Originally called the British American Oil Building after its primary tenant, it later became the Gulf Tower after BA was taken over by Gulf Canada. That name stuck until the completion of Gulf Canada Square over on 9^th Avenue and 3^rd Street S.W. Today (early May 2000) it is known as Ernst & Young House, for its principle tenant, who is to relocate to just-completed Millenium Tower in the Eau Claire area. So another name change is in the offing.

Meanwhile, the west building was the last one built, finished in 1964. It is called Guinness House, no doubt in part due to the fact that a copy of the Guinness Book of Records and a couple of bottles of Guinness were placed in the cornerstone for the main tower back in 1960.