If you find yourself in Calgary's Beltline area, you may have walked past it. It doesn't really jump out at you, but it's about to get a significant historic designation.

The West End Telephone Exchange Building at 1010 14th Avenue S.W. was built at a time when phones were relatively new to Calgary.

When telephone systems became automated, the building was no longer needed. (City of Calgary)

"When they first implemented telephones, that's where the operators would be," Josh Traptow told The Homestretch on Thursday.

"It was a manual thing. When it became automated, the building was no longer needed."

Traptow is the executive director of the Calgary Heritage Authority and says the structure, built in 1910, was extremely sturdy.

"It had double walls because it had lots of sensitive equipment back them. It had a reinforced concrete construction to take all that heavy equipment," Traptow said.

Josh Traptow, executive director of the Calgary Heritage Authority, says there are about 800 buildings on the inventory and fewer than 100 are designated. (Britton Ledingham/iEvolve Photo Inc.)

The architect was making his mark around the province.

"Allan Jeffers was the provincial architect from 1907 onward and he was also the architect for Edmonton. He built the Alberta Legislature and some other Edwardian buildings. He also built the identical telephone exchange in Inglewood," he explained.

It was no longer needed for its original purpose and was vacated in 1923, but it rarely sat empty.

"It was also the home of the American Women's Club of Calgary from 1938 to 1991. They were known for their philanthropy and fundraising," Traptow said.

"It was added to the inventory by the Calgary Heritage Authority back in August 1982 for its heritage value, its activity and its style. All of those are elements under our criteria that make it historic."

Currently it's a developer's office.

A Municipal Historic Resources designation means it can't be torn down and the exterior is regulated.

"There are more than 800 buildings on the inventory and fewer than 100 are designated," Traptow said.

With files from The Homestretch