The Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) will be continuing work on more than $700 million in major capital projects in 2026, marking the most development since the pandemic.

The City of Calgary’s wholly owned development subsidiary provided an update Monday on its work, including some rental building and hotel starts as a part of its 2026 Outlook and Business Plan.

Work continues on the Werklund Centre (former Arts Commons) and the Olympic Plaza transformation, according to CMLC president and CEO Kate Thompson.

“Construction began on the Werklund Centre in 2025 and for those who’ve seen the progress and the pile rigs and all the work moving dirt on the site, things have started in earnest in 2025,” she said.

“In 2026 you’re going to start seeing the vertical component of construction take shape of 170,000 square feet of new build in this cultural building.”

Later this year, the Olympic Plaza pavilion will begin construction, starting with a groundbreaking, Thompson said.

In the Culture and Entertainment District, the CMLC continues to provide district coordination of more than $1 billion worth of infrastructure projects, along with the City of Calgary, the Calgary Stampede and the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation.

“We identified this need a few years ago, and it’s been a key priority for us to make sure that the community keeps working as it is and welcomes all of the many visitors to the area, and also as court supports coordination and collaboration amidst all of the construction projects,” Thompson said.

Thompson added that there will be a suite of localized infrastructure projects undertaken by the CMLC in order to help better integrate the new Scotia Place event centre development.

Those will happen along 14 Avenue SE, 5A Street and Flores Ladue Parade.

Rental buildings and hotels to spring to life

Along with the public infrastructure they’re overseeing, Thompson noted five new private developments that are expected to break ground in the East Village this year.

• Ayrshire Group’s Lyric (Lot G) will provide 208 residential units in a multi-residential six-storey building
• Slokker Homes’ Vibe (Lot Q2) will provide 218 residential units and 1,100 square meters of commercial space in a 13-storey building
• Trico Communities’ The Edgewater (Lot 41) will provide approximately 170 residential units across nine storeys, with commercial space and childcare services
• Truman’s Hotel Development (Lot N) will provide 132 hotel rooms in a five-storey development

The fifth had a ceremonial groundbreaking in conjunction with the Jan. 26 CMLC report as Bankside Properties is set to begin work on their two building Library Square project on the two parking lots immediately to the east of the Central Library in the downtown.

“We’re excited by the continued evolution of the East Village, and are thrilled to collaborate with CMLC,” said Bankside principal, Cole Richardson.

“Library Square will consist of 162 new homes and represents a $60 million investment in the Rivers District. The confluence of connectivity and convenience library square will bring a contemporary living experience to one of Calgary’s oldest streets.”

Those buildings will be six-storey, mid-rise, wood-framed residential project. Richardson expected they would cater to a mid-market audience, and there will be 15 per cent of units

Tony Trutina, Chief Operating Officer at Truman is breaking ground on another hotel in the area, a 132-unit boutique operation in the East Village. It’s located at the northeast corner of Confluence Way, bordering the site of the Confluence Historic Site and Parkland.

“This site’s amazing. Just build on the vision and the plan that CMLC has done in East Village. There’s amazing energy and vibrancy down here, and we’re just looking to add some fabric to what’s already an established, great community.”

Milad Kondori, project director on behalf of the Slokker Homes 13-storey rental project, said their mixed-use project takes advantage of the great amenities in the area.

“East Village is one of the Calgary’s most ambitious and successful urban transformations, a neighbourhood defined by connectivity culture and access to both nature and downtown energy,” he said.

“Within steps from vibe, you have access to Bow River pathway system and three major urban parks that offers an exceptional balance to the residents for outdoor living and urban convenience. Slokker Homes is excited to contribute to East Village’s continued evolution, and by bringing and delivering a project that adds even more value, and at the same time setting up a benchmark for future urban developments.”