City of Calgary catalyze downtown through partnership with UofC

The City of Calgary is investing $350,000 to enhance the downtown area through a partnership with Civic Commons Catalyst researchers at the University of Calgary (UofC).

The researcher’s main focus is to enhance economic recovery through revitalizing the downtown area by taking advantage of the vacant public and private spaces.

“The transformation of downtown Calgary will yield benefits citywide for generations to come,” said Ward 7 City of Calgary Councillor Terry Wong. “We’re making an investment in the Civic Commons Catalyst because the University of Calgary brings both local and global expertise, along with a focus on innovation and the use of data and research to help address urgent issues Calgarians face daily. It is my hope that through holistic design-forward thinking and a greater focus on partnerships at the beginning of the process our downtown’s future can be even brighter, more inclusive of all Calgarian needs, and help make centre city the sustainable business core it has the potential to be.”

The City is prioritizing the use of vacant spaces through it’s office to residential conversion program, projects exploring how public space is utilized on Stephen Avenue and 8 Street SW, and working with community organizations.

“While it is the whole of civilization that finds itself at a critical inflection point, it is cities where these challenges will unfold. Therefore, cities must be the fulcrum upon which bold solutions are found,” said Alberto de Salvatierra, director of the Center for Civilization and Assistant Professor at SAPL.

Also, The city’s partnership with SAPL will provide solutions for Calgary’s downtown strategy team, such as ideas including recycling retired LRT cars, transforming 4th Avenue into a pedestrian community space, or examining the viability of hydroponic food production in downtown buildings.

“This research partnership exemplifies the UofC’s commitment to our community and the critical importance that design-based research plays in the shaping of great cities and societies. Downtown Calgary is facing unprecedented challenges from high vacancy rates and social vulnerability that is affecting the quality of life in our city,” says Dr. Ed McCauley, University of Calgary president and vice-chancellor. “The Civic Commons Catalyst reframes these problems to show how underutilized spatial assets can become opportunities for social, economic, and environmental innovation. It is an important example of how great universities and great cities can work together.”

Calgary’s downtown is set to benefit from sustainable future plans bringing big data and design-at-scale approaches together through research and innovation projects supported by the city and UofC.

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“Through our research and teaching, the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape has a long history of helping create a better future for Calgary. This new and historic long-term funding commitment for the Civic Commons Catalyst Initiative reinforces our partnership and ensures that the Catalyst will continue to help guide the rejuvenation of Calgary’s downtown,” said SAPL Dean John Brown.

The city’s partnership with Civic Commons Catalyst will bring together SAPL, the Canadian Urban Institute, and REEF — the largest operator of parking in North America — to gather information about the priorities businesses, real-estate, and academics have in the downtown area, so they can find effective solutions to meet community needs.

“Calgary’s Downtown Strategy aims to support private investment, generate visits and spending downtown, while enhancing the quality of life for people who live, work, visit, and learn in our downtown,” said Thom Mahler, director, Downtown Strategy for The City. “The Civic Commons Catalyst Initiative and SAPL are here to help harness the expertise of private sector innovators like REEF and of city-building thought leaders at the Canadian Urban Institute to help propel us further in realizing that vision.”

The city says this announcement is a sneak peak of an exhibition showcasing the work the Civic Commons Catalyst has already done to make the core more sustainable, equitable, inclusive, vibrant, and prosperous.

“City of a Thousand Planets is an exhibition — at SAPL’s City Building Design Lab — that shares and makes public the Calgary-centred design research work from Phase one and Phase two of the Civic Commons Catalyst Initiative. Using digital renderings, 3D models and interactive offerings, the exhibit is a rich display of a vision for underutilized reimagined, repurposed and reactivated spaces for a bolder, more sustainable, environmentally conscious and vibrant downtown.” The city said.