Variable heights, with low-maximum makes it more interesting and less shadowy than a point-tower while maintaining high density

Purpose-built rental helps diversify the area and generates more street life, demand for services

Maintains the mini-street grid forming from the University City development (that is a very low bar, but more than I can say about the Co-op proposal)

Pushes density further south, towards the main activity centre in the area and why development is happening here in the first place (University of Calgary & the research park)

Pedestrian-oriented retail in both examples

I don't mind either design too much. I would like to see some better details of the ground-floor treatment, however overall either building looks like it might succeed:What the city should do to help these Brentwood developments reach their full potential is working on the connectivity within the site (strong, consistent street grid) and re-organize 32nd Avenue NW across Crowchild and into the university. The road is largely over-built / over-engineered like most of our 1970s era boulevards that sap urban vibrancy potential away by being too fast, too wide and hostile to pedestrians. The University of Calgary area is the most obvious area outside the core to invest in a higher-quality public realm and active transportation designs because it combines both poor active transportation designs with the high active transportation mode share.