Welcome to At the Arena. This segment throughout the offseason will highlight and review the design outlined for Scotia Place, the new home of the Calgary Flames.
Each edition will address a different aspect of the design. Where did the Flames hit it out of the park, and where did they flat-out miss?
Currently, the Saddledome doesn’t really have a designed landscape surrounding it, mostly because it rests at the center of a massive parking lot. The current patches of grass, sloped berms, and some trees here and there really don’t provide the contrast that a giant concrete saddle sitting on a giant asphalt lot demands. It really is an uphill battle—the sheer void that is the Stampede grounds when they’re empty is hard to miss and makes the Saddledome stick out like crazy. It’s part of what makes it such a statement against the downtown skyline.
Scotia Place, on the other hand, is set to have a vast array of outdoor spaces with historical, local, and Indigenous design influences. Furthermore, nestled on the east edge of downtown next to the future Green Line, the location trumps the Saddledome while still keeping a toe on the Stampede grounds.
Landscape design
The landscape, and broader site design of Scotia Place, were directly influenced by Treaty 7 Nations, Métis Region 3 and the Urban Indigenous Community. With downtown Calgary resting so close to the confluence of the Bow and Elbow Rivers—a traditional meeting place for many Indigenous peoples—it was crucial for the city to incorporate a more reflective design that encompassed all of the building site history. Including this partnership with the Alberta Indigenous peoples will aim to strengthen Calgary’s community with a focus on collective appreciation for tradition and narratives, and the stewardship of traditional lands.
One of the main design elements featured on the building site is “West to East Expression”. The design element encapsulates southern Alberta’s landscape perfectly with the Rocky Mountains towering over the horizon to the west as the foothills creeps away to the east and eventually deflate into rolling prairie. This journey from west to east is highlighted in the overall project but the landscape design especially embodies a storytelling role while also highlighting the regional and historical context of the city.
The plants featured in the design honour Indigenous traditions and the region’s ecosystem. The planting pallet looks beyond aestheticism to provide opportunities for cultural expression and strives to highlight the diverse identities and narratives of Indigenous communities. The overall site design also seeks to highlight many regional landmarks beyond the city in an effort to inspire the curiosity of exploration in anyone who gathers there.
Another area in the CEC Block that aims to set itself apart from the crowd is through a large focus on integrated urban facilities. With Scotia Place and the CEC Block’s unified architectural and landscape design, the site will encourage integrated, accessible, environments and offer different community activation opportunities on three different sides of the building.
Previously discussed in the amenities edition of At the Arena, these “active edges” all focus on different aspects of community integration.
The Commitment zone is where you will find an outdoor basketball court amongst other elements that are all aimed at “unobstructed play opportunities.”
Complement features an outdoor plaza that can be incorporated for large outdoor events and features integrated seating and a mural representing the confluence of the Bow and Elbow Rivers. The Complement side also offers future benefits linked to the 14 Ave streetscape improvements across the road.
The Engagement section is all about integrating the transition from public space to the retail section of the block. Paired with future streetscape improvements to Stampede Trail, the west side of the building will feature two restaurants and a retail section on the northwest corner.
The north side of the block is the Movement section. Featuring a specific connection to the natural environment, rivers, and mobility network. The space encourages circulation into public spaces.
Finally, the east side will feature the Acknowledgement section that will incorporate Indigenous art onto the side of the new multilevel parkade.
The landscape design, in conjunction with the architectural design, of CEC Block looks to offer an experience that is a truly integrated urban facility, and also a great celebration of Calgary’s diverse ecosystems and cultures.
Celebrating a legend in Calgary
Rather than stacking up the landscape design of CEC Block against other venues across the league, I think it’s important to recognize the tragic events that unfolded last week that led to the deaths of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau. The impact Johnny and his family had on Calgary has been felt immensely as the city mourns his and Matthew’s passing.
Early Friday afternoon a memorial started to form at the west entrance of the Saddledome. Over the course of the weekend, the memorial grew, encompassing the entire stairway while chalk messages stretch from stairway to curb.
The Flames announced Tuesday that the memorial will be moved to the north side of the stairs and the team will be hosting a candlelight vigil tonight at 8 p.m.
Johnny and his family were welcomed with open arms in Calgary and that feeling was reciprocated. The Gaudreau’s impact on the hockey community hasn’t gone unrecognized and it seems with an almost certainty that the team will honour Johnny permanently in Flames history. Whether it’s a statue outside of Scotia Place, number 13 in the rafters, or selling purple Gatorade and skittle combos at the new concessions, Johnny Hockey won’t be forgotten in Calgary.
Discussing architecture, the Saddledome won’t forget him either. All those memories and emotions tied not only to Johnny the person and what he accomplished, but the place we collectively called home with him. You could feel it outside the Saddledome West entrance if you visited this weekend. Sadness, pain, and confusion but also overpowering love, appreciation and thanks.
You’ll forever be remembered in Calgary and will forever be a part of the Saddledome history, literally almost bringing the roof down with that Game 7 winner against Dallas.
Thanks, #13.
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