Updated: 3 November 2018
Located at the confluence of the Canadian Rockies to the west, and the Canadian Prairies to the east, the municipality of Calgary is the third largest in Canada and home to the world-famous Calgary Stampede. With its roots proudly planted in rural Alberta, in recent years the city has undertaken several initiatives in an effort to transform itself into a global city, which can be seen in some of its most recent architecture.
Check out Calgary’s #mustseearchitecture below.
Studio Bell
Inspired by the northern prairie landscape, Studio Bell was created to celebrate and discover the future of Canadian music. The building is clad in interwoven metallic surfaces and crafted with earthen tiles to create an instrument of light, space, and music. A large, curving bridge connects the two building over a major street.
Practical Information
Architect: Allied Works Architecture
Built: 2016
Type: National Music Center
Address: 850 4 St SE, Calgary, AB T2G 1R1
Open to the Public: Yes
Hours: Wednesday to Sunday: 10:00am – 5:00pm
Website: www.studiobell.ca/
Calgary Central Library
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Designed by Norwegian architecture firm Snøhetta and Canadian firm DIALOG, the Calgary Central Library is an oval-shaped building that is elevated over a light rail trackway and a public plaza. A striking textured facade is filled with translucent and opaque fritted glass panels to create public and private studying areas on the inside.
Practical Information
Architect: Snøhetta, DIALOG
Built: 2018
Type: Library
Address: 800 3 St SE, Calgary, AB T2G 2E7
Open to the Public: Yes
Hours: Daily, 9:00am – 5:00pm (12:00pm – 5:00pm on Sunday)
Website: www.calgarylibrary.ca/
The Bow
Designed by international architecture firm Foster + Partners, The Bow is the tallest tower in Calgary. Its convex shape directs north prevailing winds away from the building, while the south facade curves inwards providing enhanced internal views of the Rocky Mountains for its users.
Practical Information
Architect: Foster + Partners
Built: 2012
Type: Office
Address: 500 Centre St SE
Open to the Public: Yes
Glacier Skywalk
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Located 280 meters (918 feet) over the Sunwapta Valley, the Glacier Skywalk is a glass-floored observation platform offering views of the Canadian Rockies.
Practical Information
Architect: Sturgess Architecture
Built: 2014
Type: Lookout
Address: Icefields Pkwy, Jasper, AB T0E 1E0
Open to the Public: Yes
Hours: Daily, 10:00am – 4:00pm (closed during the winter)
Cost: $32
Website: www.banffjaspercollection.com/attractions/glacier-skywalk/
Shane Homes YMCA at Rocky Ridge
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This award-winning building combines athletic, recreation and fitness facilities under a distinctive singular roof. The low-lying, horizontal building blends into the natural contours of the landscape using an expansive glulam structure to span over the different internal spaces.
Practical Information
Architect: GEC Architecture
Built: 2017
Type: Recreation Center
Address: 11300 Rocky Ridge Rd NW, Calgary, AB T3G 5H3
Open to the Public: Yes
Hours:
Weekdays: 5:30am – 10:00pm
Weekends: 7:00am – 5:00pm
Website: www.ymcacalgary.org/program-descriptions/locations/shane-homes-ymca-at-rocky-ridge/
Peace Bridge
The Peace Bridge is a pedestrian bridge designed by Santiago Calatrava that crosses over the city’s Bow River. Nicknamed the “finger trap bridge”, it is used by over 6,000 people day and connects the city to the Bow River pathway and the community of Sunnyside. The building is a departure from Calatrava’s previous designs due to its symmetrical design, use of color, and lack of high masts.
Practical Information
Architect: Santiago Calatrava
Built: 2012
Type: Bridge
Address: Bow River at 7th Street SW
Open to the Public: Yes
Great Plains Recreation Facility
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Featuring two multi-purpose rinks, the Great Plains Recreation Facility uses nature as a design feature throughout the site. Integrated with a sweeping stormwater path, the building is sunken into the earth and is clad with black, white, and zinc paneling. A warm colored, central lobby with glazing connects the building to the sky.
Practical Information
Architect: Marshall Tittemore Architects, MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects
Built: 1967
Type: Recreation Center
Address: 5749 76 Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2C 4S9
Open to the Public: Yes
Hours: Daily, 7:00am – 5:00pm
Website: www.icesports.com/greatplains/
Calgary Municipal Building
The Calgary Municipal Building is the seat of the local government and replaced the old Calgary City Hall building in 1985. The design features a series of stepped form and was the result of a citizen’s vote.
Practical Information
Architect: WZMH Architects
Built: 1985
Type: Civic
Address: 800 Macleod Trail SE, Calgary, AB T2P 2M5
Open to the Public: Yes
Hours: Monday to Friday: 6:00am – 6:00pm
Website: www.calgarytower.com/
Calgary Tower
Originally called the Husky Tower, the Calgary Tower is a 190.8m free-standing tower that was built to celebrate Canada’s 1967 centennial. It features a revolving restaurant and observation tower at the top.
Practical Information
Architect: WIlliam G. Milne, Albert Dale
Built: 1967
Type: Observation Tower
Address: 101 9 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2P 1J9
Open to the Public: Yes
Hours: Daily: 9:00am – 9:00pm
Cost: $18.00
Website: www.calgarytower.com/
Poppy Plaza
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Poppy Plaza is one of a series of public spaces along Memorial Drive designed to honor the sacrifices of Canadians during wartime. The design of the park connects disparate pedestrian and cyclist paths with the river while allowing for large public gatherings. The materials of the park include weathering steel and wood.
Practical Information
Architect: The Marc Boutin Architectural Collaborative
Built: 2013
Type: Park
Address: 1111 Memorial Dr NW, Calgary, AB T2N 3E4
Open to the Public: Yes
Hours: Open 24 hours
Website: www.calgary.ca/CSPS/Parks/Pages/Locations/NW-parks/Poppy-Plaza.aspx
Celebration Square Plaza
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The park is designed as a relief space for workers, and people looking to enjoy the outdoors. The design features a long, winding bench that allows several people to sit on it and take in performances in the public square. Most remarkably, the design features a series of fins that light up as the city’s CTrain passes by.
Practical Information
Architect: The Marc Boutin Architectural Collaborative
Built: 2016
Type: Park
Address: 7 Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2G 0J6
Open to the Public: Yes
Hours: Daily, 5:00am – 11:00pm
Website: www.evexperience.com/area-guide
SAIT Parkade
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Designed by Canadian architect Bing Thom, the SAIT Parkade is a 3-storey parking garage with a giant soccer field on top. The structure is wrapped in a metal screen with thousands of punched holes that allow for natural light and ventilation while simultaneously creating a piece of art on the outside.
Practical Information
Architect: Bing Thom Architects
Built: 2011
Type: Parkade, Soccer Field
Address: 1301 16th Ave NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Open to the Public: Yes
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Architect: Bing Thom Architects
Built: 2011
Type: Parkade, Soccer Field
Address: 1301 16th Ave NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Open to the Public: Yes
Architect: The Marc Boutin Architectural Collaborative
Built: 2016
Type: Park
Address: 7 Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2G 0J6
Open to the Public: Yes
Hours: Daily, 5:00am - 11:00pm
Website: www.evexperience.com/area-guide
Architect: The Marc Boutin Architectural Collaborative
Built: 2013
Type: Park
Address: 1111 Memorial Dr NW, Calgary, AB T2N 3E4
Open to the Public: Yes
Hours: Open 24 hours
Website: www.calgary.ca/CSPS/Parks/Pages/Locations/NW-parks/Poppy-Plaza.aspx
Architect: Marshall Tittemore Architects, MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects
Built: 1967
Type: Recreation Center
Address: 5749 76 Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2C 4S9
Open to the Public: Yes
Hours: Daily, 7:00am - 5:00pm
Website: www.icesports.com/greatplains/
Architect: GEC Architecture
Built: 2017
Type: Recreation Center
Address: 11300 Rocky Ridge Rd NW, Calgary, AB T3G 5H3
Open to the Public: Yes
Hours:
Weekdays: 5:30am - 10:00pm
Weekends: 7:00am - 5:00pm
Website: www.ymcacalgary.org/program-descriptions/locations/shane-homes-ymca-at-rocky-ridge/
Architect: Sturgess Architecture
Built: 2014
Type: Lookout
Address: Icefields Pkwy, Jasper, AB T0E 1E0
Open to the Public: Yes
Hours: Daily, 10:00am - 4:00pm (closed during the winter)
Cost: $32
Website: www.banffjaspercollection.com/attractions/glacier-skywalk/
Architect: Snøhetta, DIALOG
Built: 2018
Type: Library
Address: 800 3 St SE, Calgary, AB T2G 2E7
Open to the Public: Yes
Hours: Daily, 9:00am - 5:00pm (12:00pm - 5:00pm on Sunday)
Website: www.calgarylibrary.ca/
Architect: Santiago Calatrava
Built: 2012
Type: Bridge
Address: Bow River at 7th Street SW
Open to the Public: Yes
Architect: WIlliam G. Milne, Albert Dale
Built: 1967
Type: Observation Tower
Address: 101 9 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2P 1J9
Open to the Public: Yes
Hours: Daily: 9:00am - 9:00pm
Cost: $18.00
Website: www.calgarytower.com/
Architect: WZMH Architects
Built: 1985
Type: Civic
Address: 800 Macleod Trail SE, Calgary, AB T2P 2M5
Open to the Public: Yes
Hours: Monday to Friday: 6:00am - 6:00pm
Website: www.calgarytower.com/
Architect: Foster + Partners
Built: 2012
Type: Museum
Address: 500 Centre St SE
Open to the Public: Yes
Architect: Allied Works Architecture
Built: 2016
Type: National Music Center
Address: 850 4 St SE, Calgary, AB T2G 1R1
Open to the Public: Yes
Hours: Wednesday to Sunday: 10:00am - 5:00pm
Website: www.studiobell.ca/
