New design plans for Olympic Plaza in Calgary unveiled

Calgarians got to see plans for the new Olympic Plaza on Monday.

On Monday, Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) and its partners at Arts Commons and The City of Calgary revealed the new design for the Olympic Plaza Transformation (OPT) project in a press conference.

The CMLC says that the new design can support gatherings of up to 5,000 people, and makes use of 96 per cent of the old plaza’s usable space.

CMLC partnered with several architecture firms and had project consultants from various companies, and say it is the largest cultural infrastructure investment in progress right now in Canada.

The transformation comes with a price tag of $70 million, and was funded by the Government of Alberta, the City of Calgary, and the Werklund family.

“Investing strategically in our public spaces – especially one as central and beloved as Calgary’s Olympic Plaza – will ensure Calgarians have access to arts, culture and recreational programming for many years to come,” said Mayor Jyoti Gondek.

“As long-time supporters of our city and of the arts, my family and I are honoured to support Arts Commons in its audacious city-changing transformation,” said transformational gift donor Dave Werklund.

It is part of a larger transformation of the Arts Commons cultural campus which costs $660 million, and includes the Arts Commons Transformation (ACT) Expansion and Modernization, and a $50M Arts Commons endowment.

Work on getting rid of the previous Olympic Plaza began in January to make room for construction of the ACT expansion, which is expected to begin in 2027.

The plaza closed on Jan. 2 and will remain so through 2028 to complete the project.

“This renewed plaza will remain a public place for all. Where cultural experiences are defined not solely by a single organization, but by the hundreds of thousands of citizens and visitors who will make this public space their own; all day every day,” said Arts Commons President and CEO Alex Sarian during the Monday press conference.

The CMLC says the International Olympic Committee (IOC) endorsed the new design throughout the process as it meets their expectations for continued activation of Olympic assets and celebration of Olympic legacy.

CMLC President and CEO Kate Thompson said engaging with the IOC is something they have “never done in a project” before, but said it was important for them.

“We wanted to talk to them about what we were doing here in Calgary, what it meant for this asset, and really get their endorsement,” she said Monday.

“The inspiration for the plaza’s design is born of the iconography of the 1988 Olympic Winter Games – the ‘sunflake’ – which is represented thematically in the radiating stone pavers of the plaza, and more literally in the design of the central water feature, a 12-metre tall structure the colour of an Olympic gold medal that serves as a fountain in summer, a centrepiece for the skating rink in winter, and a landmark through all seasons,” said Co-President and Landscape Architect of CCxA Marc Halle.

CMLC said that key elements of the design were shaped by public engagement programs conducted in 2016 and 2024. This includes the integration of Olympic legacy features, the continued presence of a skating rink, and the addition of green spaces, patios, and a pavilion to support year-round activities.

“The pavilion on the plaza’s east edge creates an indoor gathering place activated with a food and beverage service and public washrooms, and the green space on the plaza’s north edge offers a sloped green space,” Halle said. “Together, the reimagined plaza reflects both the historical significance of the location and Calgary’s aspirations for a modern, inclusive public space.”

Arts Commons is set to become the Werklund Centre in 2025, and Sarian says when the Olympic Plaza gets running in 2028, they can “usher in a new era for not only our organization, but also for Calgary’s arts and culture sector. ”

“From visual and applied arts to live performance, these industries not only drive our economy by supporting local tourism and hospitality but also reflect the dynamic, innovative and vibrant spirit of our province,” said Tanya Fir, Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women.

The space is expected to be completed in 2028.