Calgary Olympic Arch preserved as work on Eau Claire Plaza begins

CALGARY — It’s been a part of the Eau Claire Plaza since 1987, and will continue to be a mainstay as work begins on the area.

The Eau Claire Olympic Arch, which was built ahead of the 1988 Winter Olympic Games in Calgary, will be safely preserved as the surrounding area is redesigned.

The City says the existing features of the Plaza will be removed so the ground level can be raised to a height that can protect against floods, similar to the one seen in 2013.

Along with preserving the Arch, the Eau Claire Lumber Building will also be restored and reintegrated into the new design.

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“Paving stone from the plaza have been salvaged and will be reused at parks around the city,” said Dennis Hoffart, Project Manager for the Eau Claire Plaza redesign, in a release.

“Lumber from trees that were removed from the plaza will be used to construct architectural elements of the new design including benches and tables. Others have been used to restore flower beds on Princes Island Park and to improve fish habitat in the river system.”

Earlier this month, an iconic windmill was removed from the area and was sold to a successful bidder who has plans to have it installed at the new adventure park next to the Royal Tyrell Museum.

Construction on the Eau Claire Plaza is expected to take two to three years to complete, with parts opening up to the public as they are completed.

For more details on the changes coming to Eau Claire Plaza, click here.