Archinect - News

Maya Lin to design Glenbow Museum's new rooftop garden in Calgary

2023-10-30T16:57:00-04:00

Maya Lin Studio has been attached to a new rooftop garden terrace project at the Glenbow Museum in Calgary, Alberta.

The 13,000-square-foot design will complement the new $120 million renovation and expansion scheme from DIALOG that was announced in September of 2021. It will include an all-season pavilion structure, event spaces, and sculpture gardens surrounding a central oculus skylight that doubles as a lightwell for the new JR Shaw Centre for Art & Culture. Lin says the space will “afford a welcoming place that will invite visitors to connect to art, landscape, and the city of Calgary.” The project will be her first-ever work in Canada.

Rendering courtesy of Maya Lin Studio

“This idea that we are recycling a building in the center of downtown Calgary and making something new out of it while utilizing as much of the old building was a huge draw for me. If we can use an existing building in a better way, it is a lot more energy-efficient, it is a lot more material-efficient, and ...

The abandoned mall featured in hit show, The Last of Us, will undergo a redevelopment led by Toronto-based practice DIALOG

2023-03-16T18:53:00-04:00

HBO’s The Last of Us has taken the TV world by storm, with its season finale recently airing last Sunday. The show has brought to life the immensely popular and acclaimed video game series, placing viewers into a dire post-apocalyptic, zombie-ridden world.

Following the journey of characters Joel, played by Pedro Pascal, and Ellie, played by Bella Ramsey, we see them undertake a cross-country trip where they encounter a range of landscapes and urban locations.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Last of Us HBO - Status (@hbosthelastofus)

One of the most memorable is seen in the show’s seventh episode, “Left Behind,” set primarily in an actual vacant shopping mall. This location is Calgary’s Northland Village Mall, which has been partially closed since 2021 as it undergoes a redevelopment plan led by Toronto-based practice DIALOG.

Rendered in courtesy of DIALOG.

The firm has recently shared renderings of the reimagined mall, depicting an open-air, mixe...

BIG's pixelated Telus Sky Tower in Calgary stands 'like a lady in a cluster of cowboys'

2022-11-21T12:04:00-05:00

Bjarke Ingels Group has released newly-commissioned photographs of their Telus Sky Tower in Calgary, Canada. First unveiled in 2013, the mixed-use 60-story residential and commercial project broke ground in 2015 and was completed in 2020. Situated in downtown Calgary among a cluster of corporate office towers, BIG’s scheme incorporates residential units on its upper levels in an effort to create urban activity after the workday finishes.

Photograph © Ema Peter

While the tower’s ground floor adopts the same orientation as surrounding buildings, the scheme undergoes a diagonal shift as it rises, creating terraces and balconies for residents while offering the building its distinctive “pixelated” façade. Above the main entrance, the façade pixels extend beyond the site limits to create a series of canopies and terraces, while at night, a 160,000 sqft art installation, Northern Lights by Douglas Coupland, lights up the north and south façades, creating the largest public art piece in Cal...

DIALOG's $120 million Glenbow Museum renovation project is now officially underway

2021-09-30T15:29:00-04:00

As part of an institutional pivot that will take the combination art and history museum in a new direction, Calgary’s Glenbow Museum has officially closed its doors ahead of a three-year-long renovation project meant to reinterpret the 55-year-old museum’s image and impact on the local community.

DIALOG is behind the $120 million plan to make the museum significantly more inclusive, responsive, and accessible, transforming the existing “bunker-like” structure from 1976 into a catalyst for an entirely reimagined public program that aligns more succinctly with Glenbow’s stated goals.

"This museum's mission sits squarely in between the important cultural issues of art and history, and the timing could not be better to help create a facility far more conducive to the important current conversations around cultural inclusion happening in Canada and across the globe,” lead designer Robert Claiborne said in a statement.

Interior view. Image courtesy DIALOG

The existing eight-story build...

DIALOG unveils plans for its new NaAC facility in Calgary

2021-08-04T19:39:00-04:00

Designs for a new arts center servicing the disabled community in Western Canada have been unveiled this week as part of a dynamic rebrand that will give the former Indefinite Arts Center in Calgary a much-needed new home.

Image courtesy NaAC

Featuring an art gallery, cafe, performance venues, and outdoor gathering spaces, the National accessArts Centre (NaAC) will repurpose an old Scouts Canada building thanks to a $12 million redevelopment plan designed by DIALOG.

Image courtesy NaAC

According to NaAC’s CEO Jung-Suk Ryu: “Every city has a performing arts centre, a museum, or an art gallery — but Calgary will be the only city with infrastructure dedicated to the needs and talents of artists living with disabilities. Now, Calgary will truly become the national capital of this important, much-celebrated element of our arts and culture sector.”

Image courtesy NaAC

DIALOG is working with the group to develop an addition to the existing structure, which will be renovated by the local firm...

Snøhetta + DIALOG's new, expanded Calgary Central Library is now open

2018-11-05T15:20:00-05:00

Showing off a dynamic geometric-patterned facade, the new Calgary Central Library by Snøhetta and DIALOG finally opened its doors to the public on November 1. The Snøhetta and DIALOG team was selected to design the new library after winning the Calgary Public Library's international competition in 2013.

Located in a city where more than half of its residents are active library cardholders, the new Central Library was expanded to 240,000 square feet (two-thirds of its original size) to accommodate more visitors and their various library needs.

Photo © Michael Grimm.

The entry plaza doubles as a portal and bridge that re-establishes pedestrian connections across the site. Gently terraced slopes rise up to the building, while outdoor amphitheaters embedded into the terraces allow people to sit and library programs to take place outdoors.

“The entire building volume is enclosed in the same pattern, allowing all sides to function as the ‘front’ of the building. This ...

Get Lectured: University of Calgary, 2018-19

2018-09-19T13:41:00-04:00

Archinect's Architecture School Lecture Guide for Fall 2018

With a new school year upon us, it's time for Archinect's latest Get Lectured, an ongoing series where we feature a school's lecture series—and their snazzy posters—for the current term. Check back regularly to keep track of any upcoming lectures you don't want to miss.

Want to share your school's lecture series? Send us your school's lecture series poster and details to connect@archinect.com.

The University of Calgary Faculty of Environmental Design begins their 2018-19 lecture series today with architect brothers Mark Anderson and Peter Anderson. Speakers later this semester include Pooya Baktash, Amy Whitesides, and Borja Ferrater. Winter 2019 presents lectures from Sierra Bainbridge, Dora Epstein-Jones, Julie Larsen, Florian Idenburg, and last but definitely not least, David Adjaye.

Check out previous posters on the Get Lectured Pinterest page!

Want another way to share your school's events? Send them to Bustler! Simpl...

John Brown named Dean of University of Calgary's Faculty of Environmental Design

2018-03-28T15:26:00-04:00

The University of Calgary has announced the appointment of Dr. John L. Brown as the Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Design [...] John holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the University of Manitoba (1980), a Master of Architecture from the University of Texas (1983), a Master of Science in Building Design from Columbia University (1984), and a PhD from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (2017) [...].

In a statement, the freshly appointed Dean Brown said: "I am humbled to be named Dean of a Faculty committed to entrepreneurial thinking in the built environment. Our cities are facing big challenges, and we need out-of-the-box solutions to build a better future. This philosophy has a natural fit with Calgary, which is often cited as Canada’s most enterprising city. Our researchers and students are working with industry and government partners to explore new ways of disrupting the status quo in the design and construction industries, and dramatically improve the quality of the built and natural environments. In 2021, the Faculty of Environmental Design celebrates its 50th anniversary. I commit that, by that date, we will have extended and expanded our reputation as the global hub for entrepreneurial design thinking in the built environment."

Get Lectured: University of Calgary, 2017-18

2017-09-19T13:11:00-04:00

Archinect's Architecture School Lecture Guide for Fall 2017

Ready or not, it's the start of a new school year. Back for Fall 2017 is Archinect's Get Lectured, an ongoing series where we feature a school's lecture series—and their snazzy posters—for the current term. Check back regularly to keep track of any upcoming lectures you don't want to miss.

Want to share your school's lecture series? Send us your school's lecture series poster and details to connect@archinect.com.

Check out the Fall '17 + Winter '18 Design Matters Lecture Series, happening now at the University of Calgary Faculty of Environmental Design (EVDS) in Alberta, Canada.

FALL '17

Sept 6
Calgary: Changing City Urban Panel

Oct 11
Clare Lyster / CLUAA Urbanism and Architecture

Nov 1
Juliane Wolf / Studio Gang

Nov 29
Martha Schwartz / Martha Schwartz Partners

WINTER '18

Jan 3
Somerville Visiting Lectureship

Feb 21
Dana Cupkova / Carnegie Mellon University & Epiphyte Lab

Mar 7
Susan Fainstein / Senior Research Fellow, Harvard G...

Calatrava's Peace Bridge in Calgary keeps getting vandalized and the repair costs are adding up

2016-11-16T14:04:00-05:00

After two more glass panels were ruined on the Peace Bridge, Calgary's top transportation official revealed that vandals have, overall, caused more than $200,000 in damage to the bridge, forcing the city to upgrade the security camera system in the area. The helical steel pedestrian bridge, designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and spanning the Bow River, was closed for several weeks this summer while a contractor replaced half a dozen cracked panels.

Apparently, eight glass panel have been replaced in total since the bridge opened in 2012. Glass handrail panels have been shattered. And, earlier this year, all the light fixtures had to be replaced because the original ones kept burning out during the cold winter months.

As a deterrent, officials have had to install an extensive surveillance system. Now, they're planning to copy a move made on a nearby bridge and install some speakers that will bark at you if you loiter for too long. "Sir, move along," the loudspeaker will politely intone.

The bridge was controversial at the get-go for its high price tag—$24.5 million. It was approved mere days before the 2008 financial crash. That being said, the Peace Bridge has proved to be quite popular with both locals and tourists.

I'm not trying to pin the blame for these cost overruns on Mr. Calatrava himself, but, wow, the guy just can't seem to catch a break:

BIG's Telus Sky Tower breaks ground in Calgary, Canada.

2015-02-19T09:12:00-05:00

BIG and Dialog's TELUS Sky Tower recently broke ground along 7th Avenue block in the heart of Calgary, Canada, a city full of corporate towers surrounded by low-density suburban neighborhoods. Unveiled in 2013, the 761,235 sq.ft commercial tower integrates both working and living environments into one structure that aims to make Calgary's city center more varied and walkable. The tower's textured glass façade complements yet stands out from its environment.

According to the TELUS Sky website, the 59-story tower will begin with dining and retail spaces as well as access to adjacent buildings. The tower also has 26 floors of office spaces ranging from 7,636 sqft-18,997 sq.ft, followed by 29 floors of residential spaces consisting of 326 executive rental suites.

"The large floor plates for workplaces recede to achieve the slender dimensions of residential floor depths. The texture of the façade in a similar fashion evolves from a smooth glass façade enclosing the work space to a three-di...

Calgary New Central Library Competition Shortlists Four Teams

2013-08-05T21:04:00-04:00

Who said that libraries were irrelevant in this digital age? Not the submitters in this competition. Since May, the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) in Alberta, Canada has been on the search for the architectural team to create a compelling design for the new Central Public Library in East Village. CMLC, the City of Calgary, and the Calgary Public Library held an open Request for Qualification as Stage One of a two-stage process to ultimately select the Prime Design Consultant.

On August 1, CMLC announced the following four shortlisted firms—some who already have high-profile status—that will advance to Stage Two, Request for Proposal:

3XN and AECOM (Denmark and Calgary)
KPMB and BKDI (Toronto and Calgary)
REX and Group2 (New York and Calgary)
Snøhetta and Dialog (Oslo/New York and Calgary)

Canadian telecom giant TELUS taps BIG for landmark tower in Calgary

2013-07-09T17:13:00-04:00

The 750,000 square foot vibrant mixed-use tower will incorporate office, retail and residential space. There will be 430,000 square feet of office space, of which 155,000 square feet will be for TELUS. The development, scheduled for completion in the fall of 2017, will provide approximately 250 jobs for Calgarians, and engage local trades and companies to complete our vision.

$400-million, 750,000 square foot LEED Platinum project to transform Calgary’s skyline with an architectural marvel, creating a dynamic community of blended urban living and working

Calgary, AB – TELUS is reaching for the sky with a new architectural landmark in Calgary’s downtown core, transforming the entire 7th Avenue block into one of the most technologically innovative and environmentally-friendly sites in North America.

“The TELUS team is tremendously proud of our longstanding history in Alberta and thrilled to announce the development of TELUS Sky, which will stand as a lasting symbol of our passionate commitment to the Calgary community, our customers, our team members and to the province of Alberta,” said Darren Entwistle, TELUS President and CEO. “Our new development is a powerful contribution to Calgary’s economic strength, culture and social vitality. Notably, TELUS Sky will inject millions of dollars into the community and create hundreds of local jobs while...

Calatrava's Peace Bridge to open tomorrow in Calgary

2012-03-23T19:37:00-04:00

“It has been extraordinarily controversial and I made no bones of the fact that it’s not a project I would have supported if I had been on council at the time,” said the mayor. “But the thing is, it’s there. It’s an indelible and a permanent part of the landscape of our city. “It would all do us good to grow to love it.” The span, designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, is officially pegged at $24.5 million, but is expected to cost more.

Allied Works Architecture unveils design of new National Music Centre in Calgary

2011-06-22T19:14:00-04:00

Two years after holding an international architectural competition that saw world-renowned designers face off in a public presentation, the National Music Centre revealed the extraordinary final design by Allied Works Architecture, the winner of the competition.