Calgarians are being asked to help take part in the Olympic Plaza Transformation (OPT) project this month, by opting into public engagement with the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation.
CMLC opened the engagement process for the venerable downtown plaza on May 10, marking a milestone in the redevelopment process for the area, which includes the transformation of Arts Commons.
Public engagement will be held through an online survey, set to run until June 5, alongside in-person engagement with CMLC ambassadors at pop-ups at Olympic Plaza.
“We want to hear directly from Calgarians on how they currently use Olympic Plaza, their vision for cultural and recreational experiences in the revitalized space, and how we can ensure its enduring appeal as a cherished community asset,” said Kate Thompson, President and CEO of CMLC, in a prepared media release.
As an added incentive, participants in the online survey will also have a chance to win an Arts Commons prize package.
CMLC said there would be no formal town hall engagement sessions for the plaza.
OPT’s project cost has been estimated by CMLC to be $70 million, with $40 million of that cost having been allocated through the City of Calgary’s 2023–26 downtown revitalization budget.
The overall redevelopment of Arts Commons is slated to cost $660 million.
Ready for change
Thompson said that after 35 years of use by Calgarians, Olympic Plaza is ready to be modernized.
“We know many Calgarians and visitors have fond memories associated with the plaza and this is an incredible opportunity for Calgary to revitalize the plaza into a modern, inclusive, arts-focused gathering place that reflects the vibrant spirit of our community,” she said.
“Calgarians’ feedback will be crucial in informing the design and ensuring that the revitalized plaza can continue to thrive as a beloved gathering space for generations.”
Previous targeted stakeholder engagement about the plaza’s future was held earlier in 2024.
Feedback gathered by the City of Calgary in 2016 about the future of Olympic Plaza will also be incorporated into the overall public engagement.
Discussions over the redevelopment of Olympic Plaza have been ongoing since 2003, with a mandate by the city to redevelop the site starting in 2007.
Lifecycle conditions of the plaza have been described previously by Thom Mahler, Director of Downtown Strategy for the City of Calgary, as “crumbling.”
Designs for Olympic Plaza are expected to be shared in early 2025, following the public engagement process.
The plaza will be closed from late 2024 to 2028 for construction on both the plaza and on Arts Commons.
