The City of Calgary and Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation (CSEC) have revealed the design for Calgary’s new event centre, Scotia Place.
Designed by HOK and DIALOG, the building is influenced by the ancestral and historical land of Indigenous Peoples and the culturally significant site that embodies our shared purpose to gather. It brings together Indigenous cultural perspectives with Calgary and the region’s natural beauty, reflecting the four elements of nature—fire, ice, land and air.
A striking feature of the building is the central structure with a textured flame motif that emulates a home fire, which is further amplified when it is lit at night. The home fire, a place of warmth and energy that brings people together to share stories of the past and create stories for the future, rises from the white, glacial-like forms that define the lower parts of the building.
“When you consider that Calgary is already the envy of other cities with a new world-class convention centre in the heart of the Culture + Entertainment District, the addition of Scotia Place is another signal to investors that our city understands how to build a future that leverages hospitality and hosting as its core strengths,” said Mayor Jyoti Gondek. “We are also acknowledging and honouring the foundational role that Indigenous communities have played for generations in making Calgary, and now Scotia Place, a space where we all belong.”
Scotia Place, which is scheduled to open in fall 2027, celebrates the area’s importance as a place for all and will be a landmark attraction within the Culture + Entertainment District. Beyond the event centre, the 10-acre city block is designed for connection and includes a community rink, outdoor and indoor plaza spaces, four restaurants, the Calgary Flames team store, and future development opportunities in the northeast corner. It will provide gathering places and amenities for the 8,000 people who will live in this new downtown neighbourhood.
“Calgary has a long history of hosting world-class events, drawing millions of visitors to the city each year, generating revenue for local businesses, and boosting the economy,” said Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. “With construction on the Calgary Rivers District and Event Centre now underway, Calgary is one step closer to a revitalized downtown that will bring new energy into the city, attract more exciting events, and create jobs to improve the quality of life for Calgarians.”
A development permit application for the facility was submitted on July 19, 2024. This was a significant milestone for the project team of CAA ICON, HOK-DIALOG, and CANA/Mortenson. People interested in following or commenting on the permit can find the application at Calgary.ca/dmap. The application is expected to be heard by the Calgary Planning Commission by end of 2024.
“This is an important day for Calgary,” said Calgary Councillor Sonya Sharp who serves as the Event Centre committee chair. “Today is about so much more than the design of a building. Today is the unveiling of a place where Calgarians and visitors from around the world will make memories at concerts, sport and community events. I hope that everyone is as excited as we are, knowing that Scotia Place will become the complete experience in our new Culture & Entertainment District.”
“At CSEC, a key component of our mission is to be the heartbeat of our community, create connections and bring people together,” said Robert Hayes, CSEC president and CEO. “Scotia Place will become the perfect home to achieve and share this mission with all Calgarians. Seeing the design brings the vision of so many contributors to life. We are especially thankful to the City of Calgary and the Province of Alberta for their leadership and support to help bring us to this point. In stride with our partner Scotiabank, we are very proud to play a role in presenting Scotia Place as the culmination of diligence and passion, which is now visual in this breathtakingly beautiful and meaningful facility.”
The design acknowledges the significance of the building’s location at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow Rivers on the ancestral land of the Treaty 7 Peoples and the Metis Nation. The City of Calgary, CSEC, HOK-DIALOG and CAA ICON worked with an Indigenous Advisory Group that included representatives from the Treaty 7 Nations, the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3, and the Urban Indigenous community throughout the design process.
A key theme heard often during the Indigenous engagement sessions was “come in, there is room,” making it clear that Scotia Place needs to be a place that is designed for all.
The building’s public plazas are designed to honour the deep-rooted connection that Indigenous Peoples have with the land, incorporating representations of the tipi, Métis Trapper’s Tent, and elements of Alberta’s world-renowned natural landscape.
An important design decision was to lower the event and ice surface so that the primary concourse will be at street level. Calgarians and visitors will be able to move seamlessly between the curb, the primary concourse and the outdoor public plazas.
“We at DIALOG are thrilled to join forces with HOK and combine our unique expertise to transform Calgary’s Event Centre into the catalyst for a dynamic new urban community,” said Doug Cinnamon, partner architect at DIALOG.
“Other design principles, including public realm activation, the integration of Indigenous influences, public art and storytelling, sustainability, and a balance between past, present, and future are central to our vision. The ultimate goal is to ensure seamless accessibility, promote mixed uses, and create vibrant public areas for everyone to enjoy. This joint redesign represents an opportunity to spur investment into the area and enhance its cultural vitality, anchoring Calgary’s position as a thriving, bustling community hub.”
Scotia Place is a generational investment in Calgary’s emerging and vibrant Culture + Entertainment District. Intended to serve Calgary for decades to come, the building features universal accessible design and energy and water conservation that could make the building net-zero by 2050.
Construction begins this week. Additional information about Scotia Place including design renderings, a video, and frequently asked questions is available on calgary.ca/ScotiaPlace.