[ad_1]
The firms that will design Olympic Plaza’s transformation in downtown Calgary were announced Thursday.
Located along Macleod Trail S.E. between Seventh and Eighth avenues, the plaza was constructed for the 1988 Winter Olympics’ medal ceremonies.
Now, after 35 years, the public space “is aging and has outgrown its mandate and lifecycle costs,” according to the City of Calgary’s web page for the project.
The Olympic Plaza overhaul was unveiled in June when the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) announced a “competitive” request for proposal (RFP) process to find a team for the project.
The City of Calgary’s 2023-26 budget has earmarked $40 million for project initiation costs associated with the revamp.
It’s part of $108 million the city is spending on downtown revitalization initiatives.
During a press conference at Olympic Plaza on Thursday, CMLC president Kate Thompson said three out of 25 RFPs were selected for the redesign: GH3, Belleville Placemaking and CCxA.
In an interview with CBC News after the press conference, Thompson said the plaza holds a lot of “embedded meaning” for Calgarians.
“When you’re looking at what we can do with Olympic Plaza, we knew it wasn’t just about the physical space, but it was really about how we’re going to activate the space,” she said.
Immediately south of the plaza, Arts Commons is undergoing its own transformation. The $480-million project is also part of revitalization efforts for Calgary’s downtown.
Pat Hanson, principal with GH3, says the location played a role in why the architecture and urban design team was attracted to the project. She says Calgary is an “interesting city,” but the synergy between Olympic Plaza and the Arts Commons project is particularly interesting.
“It needs to be a design that is accessible, open … that allows for multiple types of activities to take place,” Hanson said.
The $40 million covers the initial design and planning costs of the Olympic Plaza project, but the city says more funds will be needed for construction.
The plaza will undergo its redesign process through 2023 and 2024. The actual construction period is still being planned.
[ad_2]
