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The Project Teams

Arts Commons Transformation Team

In October, 2020, CMLC, Arts Commons, and The City of Calgary entered a tri-party partnership agreement and formed the ACT Oversight Committee with CMLC acting as Development Manager, overseeing the project and managing the procurement of the entire project team. 

On February 9th, the ACT project partners  announced ACT’s Prime Design Team—an impressive collection of global and local leaders in architecture and design who will bring a rich variety of perspectives and specialties to the project.

Leading the team is KPMB, an internationally recognized architectural practice based in Toronto with proven expertise in major arts and theatre projects, including at Toronto’s Massey Hall + Allied Music Centre and the Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity. Tawaw Architecture Collective Inc., led by Canada’s first First Nations woman to become licensed to practice architecture in Canada, will ensure the Indigenous perspective is thoughtfully woven into all aspects of ACT’s design. Rounding out the team is Calgary-based Hindle Architects, a trusted local firm with a history of successful projects around Calgary. In September 2022, EllisDon was named as construction manager.

This Prime Design Team is supported by consultants with expertise in cost consulting, engineering, acoustics, theatre planning and design, accessibility, and more. 

 

Olympic Plaza Transformation Team

In June, 2023, Arts Commons, Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) and The City of Calgary were thrilled to announce the Olympic Plaza Transformation (OPT)—a new city building initiative to renew an important but aging downtown cultural space, amplify the potential of the Arts Commons Transformation (ACT) and foster continued revitalization of the downtown core.

The Prime Design Consultants on OPT were announced in late 2023 and include a team of three specialty Canadian firms: gh3* Architecture, Urban Design & Landscape Architecture, CCxA Landscape Architecture & Urban Design, and Belleville Placemaking.

The ACT and OPT teams will be working together to ensure the project is approached as a whole, integrating the plan for the Arts Commons Transformation and the Olympic Plaza Transformation, complementing each other in both design and purpose.

“Arts Commons is the beating heart of Calgary's downtown.”

~ The Honourable Doug Black, Canadian Senator

“Arts Commons will be a key contributor to the social, economic, cultural, and intellectual life and well-being of Calgarians and visitors alike, and an important building-block for the revitalization of the downtown core suffering.”

~ Mayor Naheed Nenshi

"Bringing back Alberta’s economic strength and attracting investment will require a complete community. That includes infrastructure as well as quality of life elements, like professional sports teams and of course a strong and vibrant arts and culture scene. These are all important pieces of making people and companies want to move to and stay in Calgary. The Arts Commons Transformation will enhance our ability to succeed while providing much-needed capacity for citizens to enjoy performance arts."

~ Ric McIver, Minister of Transportation

"The quality of a community’s cultural infrastructure has a direct impact on quality of life and therefore, on the competitiveness ​of communities in attracting people ​and investment."

~ Canadian Council of Chief Executives

"CMLC is proud to be a partner on this project that is adding to the cultural identity of Calgary. We are confident the team will provide a design solution that improves the resiliency, accessibility and capacity of Arts Commons and that its experiences will be designed to meet the needs of the community for years to come."

~ Kate Thompson, President and CEO, CMLC

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