Award

J U N E 2 0 2 4 | 79 BMO Centre Expansion R EN D ER I N G CO U RT E S Y C A LGA RY M U N I C I PA L L A N D CO R P O R AT I O N BMO CENTRE EXPANSION by NATALIE BRUCKNER T he BMO Centre Expansion in Calgary is undeniably one of the most remarkable projects in the region, for several compelling reasons. Beyond redefining Western Canada's event hosting landscape through meticulous design, it also rev- erently honours the heritage, spirit, and distinctiveness of its location. Spanning over one million square feet, this expanded BMO Centre not only claims the title of the largest con- vention centre in Western Canada but also establishes a new pinnacle for innovation and excellence in architec- tural ambition and community focus. The idea for the expansion has been in the works for some time. Following a rigorous international Request for Qualifications (RFQ ) and Request for Proposals (RFP) process in 2019, Stantec, Populous, and S2 (SPS) emerged as the prime design con- sultants. Overseeing construction management was PCL Construction, with project management han- dled by M3 Project Management. The expansion encompasses an impressive 565,000 square feet, effec- tively doubling the facility's rentable area to accommodate a combined occupancy of 33,000. Notable addi- tions include over 100,000 square feet of new exhibition space, 38 state-of- the-art meeting rooms, two expansive ballrooms totalling 70,000 square feet, and a captivating central gather- ing space known as The Exchange. Kelly Coles, VP of Building & Infrastructure at Calgary Municipal Land Corporation, highlights the project's emphasis on creating a world-class facility that reflects Calgary's spirit and aligns with the aspirations of the Culture + Entertainment District. "Every aspect of the design has been carefully crafted to enhance the visitor experi- ence, foster community engagement, and contribute to the vibrant cultural landscape of our city," says Coles. Executing such an impressive feat demanded a dream team – a collective with the foresight to push boundaries and the courage to challenge conven- tional limits. As Michael Lockwood, senior principal at Populous aptly puts it, "Understanding that the biggest risk is not taking a big enough risk." Having fully immersed them- selves in the energy of not only the Calgary Stampede but also the cos- mopolitan and forward-thinking city, the team set about designing an expansion that would resonate with the history, context, and loca- tion, as well as the vision of BMO Centre & Stampede Park Events. "The guiding philosophy behind the design of the BMO Centre expansion has always been about connecting people – allowing attend- ees to connect with the outdoors, the expansive Calgary sky, and, most importantly, with each other," explains Greg Newton, general man- ager of BMO Centre & Stampede Park Events. "We recognized the innate human desire for connection and designed the building with this in mind. How can the building facili- tate serendipitous connections? To address this question, we prioritized the design of public spaces, such as The Exchange, the central gather- ing space in the expansion. Rather than designing meeting and event spaces first, we focused on creating public spaces that fostered interac- tion, with meeting and event spaces organically surrounding them." The resulting three-level build- ing truly captures Calgary's sense of place in every small detail. "The design incorporates many aspects of the Stampede and Calgary; from the movement of a lasso and the agility of barrel racers [seen in the sweeping, composite metal panel façade and roofline] to the idea of grit, with the facility grounded by a charcoal grey brick plinth rooted in the site," explains Lockwood. Additionally, the copper-coloured cladding is textured and reflec- tive, emulating the shine of a belt buckle and presenting a modernist interpretation of rustic barn boards commonly found in rural settings. Léo Lejeune, VP at Stantec and principal-in-charge of the design team, explains that what also makes Calgary's region unique is its topog- raphy, which has been woven into the design: "From the rolling foothills that transition into the Rocky Mountains to the carved riverbanks of the Bow and Elbow Rivers, the building's form captures this sculptural expression." This attention to detail extends to the inside. Upon entering one of the multiple entrances, purpose- fully designed to accommodate large numbers, visitors find themselves being naturally moved through the main floor that features an incredibly impressive escalator. They are greeted by The Neon Cowboy, a marquee inte- rior installation and a 1:1 replication of the art piece that once adorned the exterior of the old Corral. Heading up to level two is where you find The Exchange – a central gathering space anchored by Canada's largest indoor fireplace, standing 21-metres tall. This is also where you find the Brand Room, named after the brands of the Stampede's "Big Four" found- ers. Welcoming guests into the Brand Room are leather-wrapped doors by the Alberta Boot Company featuring the iconic Calgary stitch pattern, fur- ther highlighting the Stampede's Western heritage. The 3,000-square- foot space features natural light and elevated finishes, including charred wood, leather, and copper accents. The space is complemented by an 11,000-square-foot covered outdoor balcony offering sweeping views of Stampede Park year-round. The third floor is where you'll find the grand ballroom, positioned on a 45-degree axis with floor-to-ceil- ing glass, allowing guests to enjoy breathtaking views of the Rockies to the west. Thanks to the building's structure, constructed of 10,000 met- ric tonnes of steel, with the longest span measuring 180 feet in length and 19 feet in depth – equivalent to the dimensions of an Olympic swim- ming pool – the result is a remarkable column-free grand ballroom. Lockwood explains that The Ballroom's design was inspired by the image of a cowboy, silhou- etted in a barn door. Lejeune adds, "Imagine opening barn doors and looking out with light pouring in. Guests get to enjoy beautiful views of the Canadian Rockies and the city of Calgary. At night, the lights in The Ballroom can be seen from street level on 17th Avenue below." Additionally, the exterior canopy of the expansion spans 100 metres in length and incorporates 508 indi- vidually controlled LED luminaires within perforated lightboxes, dis- persed across thousands of unique lighting soffits. The expansive out- door plaza on the expansion's south side, totaling 40,000 square feet, offers a generous year-round gather- ing space. It features amenities such as retail and café spaces, a pavil- ion, and public art installations. LOCATION 20 Roundup Way SE, Calgary, Alberta OWNER Calgary Stampede DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Calgary Municipal Land Corporation PROJECT MANAGER M3 Project Management ARCHITECTS Stantec (Prime Consultant, Architect of Record, Mechanical/Electrical Consultant) Populous (Design Lead) S2 Architecture (Construction Administration) CONSTRUCTION MANAGER PCL Construction STRUCTUR AL CONSULTANT RJC Engineers L ANDSCAPE ARCHITECT 02 Planning + Design TOTAL SIZE 565,000 (expansion) TOTAL COST $500 million

• Cover