The BMO Centre, Calgary’s Tier 1 convention centre, has been at the heart of many international conversations about excellence in design and construction.
Trade organizations have lauded the expansion, and have given the building, its construction teams, and its designers and architects award after award.
The latest laurel for the building came in May, when the BMO Centre became a winner of the AWMAC Award of Excellence in Woodworking.
That award reflected the architectural woodwork that can be found throughout the building, from the ballrooms to the Brand Room.
“I think it serves the purpose of what we set out to do. We say award-winning, and that’s not from an ego perspective; that was to attack this project from a different angle, to be thinking of experiences first. In order to do that, you really had to put a lot of attention to detail,” said Greg Newton, Executive Vice-President, Conventions and Events and General Manager of the BMO Centre.
“They approached it not from just a programmatic perspective of trying to put rooms together, but by doing something very different, focused on hospitality and focused on delivering something different on this convention center, but also something really remarkable for the City of Calgary.”
Examples of the world class woodworking used in the design of the BMO Centre can be found in the facade and lighting in the Champions Ballroom, the panelling and stage on the second floor of the centre, in the dividers for breakout spaces on the main floor near Hall A, and in the charred wood panelling used in the Stampede’s Brand Room.
A central focus throughout the development of the BMO Centre was to use locally sourced materials that would be both warm and inviting for guests, but also showcase a Calgary form of western hospitality.
“Throughout the whole project, we talked about better, being better, not bigger, being better. And so certainly, the building comes with size, but more importantly, it comes with that warmth and that experience that we’re so focused on,” said Newton.
Kate Thompson, CEO of the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation, which directed the project, said that it was important that the team members who worked on the building got recognized for their work through the award.
“I think the biggest award you can get is people using and enjoying your space for sure. Hands down, this is kind of the cherry on top—that validation from industry peers that says, ‘yeah, you’ve done a great job’ and that feels good,” Thompson said.
She said building a beautiful space is fundamental to achieving the goal of placemaking.
“You can’t divide great design from great spaces. I think they’re inextricably linked, and they’re one in the same. So, I think if you have a well-designed space that people like to be around, that’s the goal, and so we will continue to strive for well-designed spaces,” Thompson said.
As for whether the award would directly impact the ability for the BMO Centre to attract conventions, Newton said that he wasn’t sure that any organizer was looking at the awards directly when making their decision.
“I think the awards are a reflection of doing something special, and it’s the specialness of the building that brings the clients in. That’s the reaction that we see from people. This is a different value, a different venue than they’re accustomed to,” he said.
