Canadian Design and Construction Report staff writer
The Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC), alongside Arts Commons and The City of Calgary, has unveiled the design for the Olympic Plaza Transformation (OPT), a major milestone in the revitalization of one of the city’s most iconic public spaces.
The redesigned Olympic Plaza, originally built for the 1988 Winter Olympics, will feature expanded green space, a year-round pavilion, and a new 12-metre gold-coloured water feature inspired by the Olympic “sunflake” symbol. The plaza will remain home to a skating rink in winter and serve as a flexible venue for events and festivals accommodating up to 5,000 people.
“Calgary’s Olympic Plaza has long been a destination for culture and civic gathering,” said Kate Thompson, president and CEO of CMLC. “This revitalization ensures that the space will continue to serve as a modern, accessible and inclusive public gathering space for generations to come.”
The project is being delivered by a design team composed of gh3 Architecture, CCxA Landscape Architecture, and Belleville Placemaking. Public input from consultations held in 2016 and earlier this year helped shape key features of the project, including the preservation of Olympic legacy elements and the addition of accessible amenities.
The International Olympic Committee has endorsed the new design, which incorporates familiar features such as a 1988 Olympic cauldron and sections of the plaza’s original arches inscribed with “Citius, Altius, Fortius” — Latin for “Faster, Higher, Stronger.”
The Olympic Plaza Transformation represents $70 million of the broader $660 million Arts Commons campus redevelopment, which also includes the Arts Commons Transformation (ACT) expansion and a $50-million endowment fund. The OPT portion is funded by the Government of Alberta, the City of Calgary and philanthropist Dave Werklund and his family.
Arts Commons president and CEO Alex Sarian said the transformation signals a new era for Calgary’s arts and culture scene. “When complete, it will be a vibrant, world-class cultural hub located in the heart of Calgary,” he said.
Demolition work began in January 2025 to allow for the ACT expansion. Construction on the plaza itself is expected to begin in 2027, with completion anticipated in 2028. EllisDon has been named Construction Manager, while Colliers Project Leaders will serve as Project Manager for both major components of the redevelopment.
Mayor Jyoti Gondek said the project aligns with Calgary’s broader downtown revitalization strategy. “Investing strategically in our public spaces — especially one as central and beloved as Olympic Plaza — will ensure Calgarians have access to arts, culture and recreational programming for many years to come.”
Alberta’s Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women, Tanya Fir, called the investment an opportunity to bolster the province’s cultural identity and economic growth. “These industries not only drive our economy by supporting local tourism and hospitality, but also reflect the vibrant spirit of our province,” Fir said.
Construction is set to transform the existing space into a year-round destination, reflecting both Calgary’s Olympic past and its civic future.
