The legacy of the 1988 Olympics gave Calgary a plaza space to call home for 40 years, and that vision of the ’88 games is set to continue in a newly transformed Olympic Plaza.

Central to the design, which was revealed by the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) on April 7, is a water feature and statue made from the design of the Calgary Winter Games logo.

Alongside that, the summertime splash pool and winter skating rink are also set to make a comeback in the plaza.

“We have an amazing team of partners and designers working on this project, and it was incumbent upon them to actually build off of the history of this space, to create the future and the design,” said Kate Thompson, CEO of CMLC.

“They understood the spirit of gathering and tried to recreate that in this new space along and beside the Arts Commons expansion project that’s well underway right now. But also get a place where people gather all times of day, all seasons, large crowds and small. I think that was a key critical success of the project.”

Thompson said that a full 96 per cent of the usable space that was previously available for gatherings and events at Olympic Plaza has been retained in the new design.

The layout of the space is now far flatter and more accessible, without staircases, ramps, or tiered levels that were used in the previous design.

Ample tree cover will be returning to the plaza, alongside a new year-round pavilion to replace the former stage where medals were handed out during the winter games.

More accessible design allows users of all abilities to access plaza

Marc Halle, CCxA Co-President and Landscape Architect, said the original plaza had its run, but its temporary design, one that lasted for longer than intended, meant that there were drawbacks in the old design.

“The things that really were timeless, especially the skating, the water feature, the way that it brought communities together was amazing. Maybe some of the drawbacks, though, it was a bit hard to access. There were lots of stairs, and it was hard to see all the way through,” Halle said.

“A number one priority was to make sure that it was a safe space for everybody, but trying to keep those essential ingredients, and trying to build it with materials that maybe will last longer, and in an expression that maybe relates to its new role as the forecourt or the landing for the whole Arts Commons campus.”

He said the new statue would be that central drawing feature for the redesigned plaza and help visitors wayfind while using the space.

“It’s so prominent, it needed to be really special, and you don’t just create symbols out of thin air. So, it was a lot of work, a lot of analysis, but a lot of inspiration. Starting from the 1988 logo, it was so good… it never gets tired. That was a great starting point to encapsulate that memory, but at the same time create a new legacy for the future memories that are going to be made here,” Halle said.

The new design would both seamlessly match the work being done for the Arts Commons Transformation, but also respect and reflect the history of Olympic Plaza, said Thompson.

“I think it was important to integrate the pieces of the plaza that worked and also build off, making it more flexible, more adaptable for pieces in the future, for different uses that maybe we don’t even know about yet,” she said.

“You want to take something that works and build on it. I think that’s what the team’s done here. The skating really works, it’s a gathering place, it’s a programming place that people can depend on. What are you going to do on a cold night you have visitors coming? Let’s go down to the Olympic Plaza and skate.”

Design transforming downtown access to park space

The new design also marked the first hints of how the entire Arts Commons campus, soon to be known as the Werklund Centre, would be transformed in unison.

Transformation of Olympic Plaza has been fully funded by the City of Calgary and the Government of Alberta for $70 million, out of a total of $660 million for the redevelopment of Arts Commons.

Alex Sarian, CEO of Arts Commons said that the design for Olympic Plaza was the missing piece of the puzzle to create a collective vision for the campus, and for Calgarians, about what arts and culture could become in Calgary.

“Without Olympic Plaza, we remain a collection of enclosed theatres and venues, and this plaza is really the first gesture of many that allows us to redefine and to amplify our definition of what a cultural experience can be. So, to me, it’s exciting, not only because of the design we’re finally sharing, but because of what it means for Calgary and Calgarians and our ability to engage with them,” Sarian said.

He said that the new design was also a more flexible space that would better serve the needs of the numerous concerts and festivals that have and will take place in the plaza.

“We all know the plaza has been activated, certainly over the past 40 years. I like to joke that it’s been activated in spite of itself and not because of itself. So, when you look at a lot of the programmers, they have been able to do amazing things, but really fighting against what the plaza was designed to do,” Sarian said.

“As part of our stakeholder engagement, we sat down with so many of those user groups. So, what you are seeing today is not only a manifestation of those conversations, but also some of the things we don’t see—where power and where water is connected, we’ll be able to have giant events without having to shut down lanes and lanes to bring in additional resources.”

Improved safety for the public was also an element of the new design, said Ward 7 Coun. Terry Wong, noting that both crime prevention through environmental design work done by the Calgary Police Service and CMLC, alongside increased vibrancy in the area, would make it safer for visitors.

“One thing that’s most important is having vibrancy, ensuring that people there are in the positive spirits, and having great experiences. When we take a look at it in terms of the plaza space, lighting and everything else, it will be an inviting place for everybody, and as a result of that, a positive experience,” Wong said.

“The reaction, I think most Calgarians will say is ‘this is amazing compared to where it was.'”