YES2020 MLA Senior Landscape Architecture Studio (Sandalack)

The Morphology of Urban Repair Calgary East Downtown

Senior Landscape Architecture Studio EVDL777 | Winter 2020 | Instructor: Dr. Beverly Sandalack Master of Landscape Architecture | School of Architecture Planning and Landscape | University of Calgary

The Morphology of Urban Repair Calgary East Downtown Introduction Morphology is destiny.

The evolution of city form reflects the evolution of ideas and ideologies. The values cultures place on the land and on urban form are reflected in changing urban forms and processes. Calgary was established in 1883 and the downtown developed as a compact grid block commercial core surrounded by mixed use and residential areas. In 1966 a mas-ter plan was prepared to guide Calgary through one of its massive growth periods. Influenced by urban renewal, the planning tool of choice at the time, the $21 million scheme consist-ed of a rationalization plan for clearing out the old and making way for the new, and scores of buildings and entire neighbourhoods were razed to make way for major institutional and commercial projects. With the oil boom of the 1970s and 1980s, more of the urban fabric was specu-latively cleared out; some rebuilt as signa-ture towers for banks and oil companies, some developed as places of spectacle to support Calgary’s 1988 Winter Olympics, and some sat vacant for decades. The mixed commercial/resi-dential uses were replaced by single use commercial or institutional blocks, and the result was a drastic decline in ur-ban vitality, as the new morphologies consisted mostly of large buildings occupying whole blocks and an overall poor quality public realm. This is the most pronounced in the east part of the downtown approximately from 1st Street West into the evolving East Village, and between the railway tracks at the south and the Bow River at the north. The issues are deep-seated and morphological in nature, and have resulted in environmental, social, economic and aes-thetic dysfunctions that need to be well understood in order to be repaired.

Recent and more focused interest by the City of Calgary, including the Mayor’s Office, has directed attention to the nine blocks surrounding City Hall, and the 9 Block project team has set an agenda for improvement. While remaining cognizant of the City’s emphasis on those nine blocks, the EVDL 777 Studio completed a comprehensive analysis of a broader area in order to understand the overall urban morphological issues of the downtown and its historic evolution. This is important as the basis for proposing new, radical, strategies for renewing the downtown and improving the public realm. Following a collective critical analysis, each of the eleven students in this final studio of the Master of Landscape Architecture Program identified an individ-ual issue, and utilized a research-based process to address their objectives. These eleven projects propose attempts to repair the urban morphology of the east part of Calgary’s downtown, and to lead ultimately to a higher quality public realm for all.

Dr. Beverly A. Sandalack

Senior Landscape Architecture Studio EVDL777 | Winter 2020 | Instructor: Dr. Beverly Sandalack Master of Landscape Architecture | School of Architecture Planning and Landscape | University of Calgary

The Morphology of Urban Repair Calgary East Downtown Table of Contents Samira Dehesh To Create a High-Quality Publc Realm to Support an Education District Vincent Ellis Urban Corridor Repair: First Street SE Weiting Huang Re-Imagine Winter in 9 Block Daeun Diane Lee Olympic Plaza Renewal Master Plan: Reimagining the civic plaza and Calgary cultural district Connie Tran Calgary’s Civic District: Redifining Calgary East Downtown Karly Do When Meaning Met Meaningfulness: Revealing + Celebrating Calgary’s Civic Heart Sheri DeBoer Park Network Masterplan Thu Ngo Life Between the Buildings | Street - Building Interface and the Quality of Public Realm Jie Li Center Street Boulevard Christina Peace Rethinking the urban river edge Arezoo Khalili Inseting Green to East Downtown Calgary

Senior Landscape Architecture Studio EVDL777 | Winter 2020 | Instructor: Dr. Beverly Sandalack Master of Landscape Architecture | School of Architecture Planning and Landscape | University of Calgary

The Morphology of Urban Repair Calgary East Downtown To Create a High-Quality Public Realm to Support an Education District

Samira Dehesh

Senior Landscape Architecture Studio EVDL777 | Winter 2020 | Instructor: Dr. Beverly Sandalack Master of Landscape Architecture | School of Architecture Planning and Landscape | University of Calgary

The Morphology of Urban Repair Calgary East Downtown To Create a High-Quality Public Realm to Support an Education District

In the heart of downtown Calgary, there is an invisible education district. Bow Valley College, School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Building (old library), and the new Central Library together form a major part of the education district. In addition, Arts Common, Calgary Municipal Building, Studio Bell, Salvation Army, and Calgary Chamber of Commerce support this district by holding temporary instructional classes when necessary. However, this precinct remains unrecognized.

Bow Valley College alone has 17,500 students and 600 full-time employees. However, the downtown campus area is not that different from other part of downtown Calgary, and it is facing the same issues of safety and vibrancy. Students are rarely seen on the streets, the connectivity is lost among these places, and people often prefer to use the Plus 15 Skyway networks. the Streets public realm with all surrounding issues is not able to compete with Plus 15 Skyway Network.

The project approach involved site analysis and precedent review of similar projects. This analysis and inventories provided the necessary information for developing the public realm improvement criteria in the following categories: • Health and Wellbeing

-Comfort and Relaxation

-Safety

-Pedestrian and Cycle Connections • Connectivity to Bow River • Redevelopment and New Programming • Identity and Sense of Place • Movement These criteria created my concepts and strategies in the design process. In brief, my goal throughout the project was to make this precinct visible and vivid.

Samira Dehesh

Senior Landscape Architecture Studio EVDL777 | Winter 2020 | Instructor: Dr. Beverly Sandalack Master of Landscape Architecture | School of Architecture Planning and Landscape | University of Calgary

Bow

Bow

Rive

r

Riv

er P

Rive

r

Riv

er P

ath

way

Harry Hays Building

ath

way

Harry Hays Building 1963 Castell Central Library opens 1972 Bow Valley College North Campus opens 3 street SE

3 street SE

5 Avenue SE

Macleod Trail

4 Avenue SE Macleod Trail

4 Avenue SE

5 Avenue SE

1979

2011

Inward-focused buildings

6 Avenue SE

6 Avenue SE 2011Bow Valley West Campus opens 2013 Bow Valley South Campus opens Calgary Municipal Building

ry

development opportunity New Green space Street Redesign new entrances Synthesis Map Opportunities Educational Buildings

a Libr

ry

a Libr

Synthesis Map Issues Educational Buildings

tral

tral

absence of bike lane bad quality streetlight bad quality side walk unsafe zone bad quality green/open space

2019 Cen

Olympic Plaza

Cen

Olympic Plaza

Calgary Municipal Building

2018 The Central Library opens 2019 SAPL moves to the former library

Public Realm Improvement Criteria: Health and Wellbeing Connectivity

Bow

Mixed-Use Development Moving SAPL to former CBE Building New Educational Buildings Streetscape Improvements

Redevelopment and New Programming Identity & Sense of Place Movement

SE t e re erf t S 3 oon W

Rive

rfron

Connectivity to Bow River Green | Open Spaces Small Size Commercial Buildings

Harry Hays Building

11

Rive

r

t Av

e SE

9

8

9

7

4 Ave SE 13

6 3

7

7

1

7

6

6 5 Ave SE 3

A central green space to define the education district

1

5

10

2

Layout A

1

3 6 Ave SE

Redeveloping former YWCA site to a seniors and students cohousing

4 4

7

1 10

7 Ave SE Calgary City Hall

7

Strategies and Concepts

Arts Commons

Education District Master Plan

3 St SE Woonerf

3 street SE Woonerf and creating the Link between Stephen avenue and Bow river pathway

Macleod Trail SE

Olympic Plaza

12

1 Bow Valley College Campus 2 The Family of Man statues 3 Mixed-Use Development 4 Faculty of Social Work and Sorce 5 SAPL Building 6 Courtyard 7 8 Orchard 9 Residential 10 Plaza 11 Bistro 12 Central Library 13 Seniors and Students Cohousing

School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape

The panel to show Calgary past, present, or future fired-clay tiles

The Family of Man statues

Bow Valley College West Campus 5 Ave SE

Macleod Trail SE

Mixed-Use Development

Bow Valley College North Campus

3 St SE Woonerf

A

A

Plaza

Real Canadian Superstore

6 Ave SE

School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape

Bow Valley College West Campus

Plaza

Bow Valley College North Campus

Bookstore Layout A Section A

Pedestrian Pathway Furniture | Landscape Zone Motor Vehicle Pathway | 3 St SE Street Parking Landscape Zone Pedestrian Pathway

The Family of Man statues

Pedestrian Pathway Street Parking Bus Lane Macleod Trail Bike lane Furniture | Landscape Zone The panel to show fired-clay tiles

Mixed-Use Development

Real Canadian Superstore

Perspective View Plaza, Cohousing and Orchard

Perspective View SAPL Building

The Morphology of Urban Repair Calgary East Downtown Urban Corridor Repair: First Street SE

Vincent Ellis

Senior Landscape Architecture Studio EVDL777 | Winter 2020 | Instructor: Dr. Beverly Sandalack Master of Landscape Architecture | School of Architecture Planning and Landscape | University of Calgary

The Morphology of Urban Repair Calgary East Downtown Urban Corridor Repair: First Street SE

The first priority for this streetscape design is to improve the cohesion north to south. At present, the disparate, unintelligible blocks are not working together to form an imageable corridor. It is a pity that the high-value icons in this area are so isolated from one another, the Arts district and the Riverfront might as well be on different planets; besides casting its long shadow, the Bow Tower has no relationship with Chinatown. True cohesion is going to be implemented with the introduction and repetition of elements and an over-arching motif. These elements include: LID & bio-filtration mechanisms such as rain gardens and bio-swales, special use lanes for events and pop-up commerce, distinct paving schema to delineate augmented use patterns, street furniture and trees. The over-arching motif will be a stream corridor theme, threading the many components together in a linear wayfinding element that culminates in a riverfront park. This stream concept can be achieved with a combination of decorative/performative paving, murals, stormwater controls, and more. Not only would this make a profound identity, but would also call to mind the city’s relationship and reliance on water.

Another priority of this design is the vitality of the street, which must be achieved through a competent melding of program and form. Increasing the residential land use will inject some life and help establish a neighbourhood familiarity. This strategy can also play a role in the removal and replacement of the eyesores and impediments to good public realm. Breaking up the mega-block that the Harry Hays currently occupies will go a long way to improving the walkability and activation of the streetscape. The new buildings can take a more appropriate form in the transition from towering central core to low-lying riverfront. As well, these buildings will host uses and programming that is relevant and integrated with their surroundings.

Vincent Ellis

Senior Landscape Architecture Studio EVDL777 | Winter 2020 | Instructor: Dr. Beverly Sandalack Master of Landscape Architecture | School of Architecture Planning and Landscape | University of Calgary

“Meld� - Conceptual Plan

3rd ave

4th ave

5th ave

6th ave

centre st

7th ave

8th ave

Masterplan

MacLeod Tr

Masterplan Legend

View of the Riverfront massing model

Footprint size vs. # of Uses existing local buildings

Historic Fire Hall no. 1 & surroundings

Space between Historic Fire Hall and Bow Tower

Central Zone Plan showing pedestiran circulation

Space between NW Travellers & Bow Tower

6th ave & 1 st

Conceptual section 221 1 St SE looking south

221 1 st SE plan view

Conceptual section 411 1 St SE looking south

Conceptual section 727 1 St SE looking north

subgrade drainage & stream motif concept

The Morphology of Urban Repair Calgary East Downtown Re-Imagine Winter in 9 Block

Weiting Huang

Senior Landscape Architecture Studio EVDL777 | Winter 2020 | Instructor: Dr. Beverly Sandalack Master of Landscape Architecture | School of Architecture Planning and Landscape | University of Calgary

The Morphology of Urban Repair Calgary East Downtown Re-Imagine Winter in 9 Block

As I notice, people basically stay indoor, offices and +15, rather than enjoying street-level places in downtown Calgary during cold times. Imagine walking in downtown Calgary on a nice sunny noon in winter, but there are no people playing in the plazas; all you can see are dirty streets with pooled water and snowdrifts, as well as uninviting sidewalks. People endure winters in downtown because of improper winter city designs.

This shows a lower level of public realm in the civic district, and damages our urban safety, positive qualities of northern climate living, and the image of a vibrant city.

So how to make a place that citizens want to spend time during winter months?

The objective of this project is to apply a landscape approach to winter city design and develop strategies to make downtown Calgary more winter-friendly.

-Propose a liveable downtown through compactness, a mix of land use, and connected pedestrian networks -Provide safe, comfortable and enjoyable streetscape by proper design of snow storage and water drainage, as well as clear multi-zone sidewalks -Integrate elements of landscape design for better winter experiences by adequate street trees, site-specific trees, shrubs and groundcovers, as well as multi-level group plantation

Weiting Huang

Senior Landscape Architecture Studio EVDL777 | Winter 2020 | Instructor: Dr. Beverly Sandalack Master of Landscape Architecture | School of Architecture Planning and Landscape | University of Calgary

9 Block

Context Map Calgary East Downtown

Land Use Map 9 Block

Sun and Shadow Map on 12.21 9 Block

City Narratives in Winter | Major User Groups Concentration of People is City Hall LRT Station

Street Interface Quality

Sidewalk Quality

Street Crossing Quality

One Winter Day in 9 Block of Selected Users | Senior People and Local Family

Open Space Quality (Winter-city Amenities)

Vegetation and Plantation Quality

Safety and Security Quality

One Winter Day in 9 Block of Selected Users | College Student and Homeless People

0

100

250

500m

type Deciduous Trees Shrubs Perennial Ornamental Grasses Perennial Groundcovers

snow snow snow snow heated heated storage storage heated heated storage storage awnings awnings shelter shelter area area awnings awnings shelter shelter area area

car splash

site-specific trees, site-specific trees, site-specific trees, site-specific trees, shrubs and shrubs and shrubs and shrubs and groundcovers groundcovers groundcovers groundcovers

soil condition

sun

Ulmus Americana 'Brandon' Fraxinus Pennsylvanica Cornus Stolonifera or Sericea Calamgrostis x Acutiflora "Karl Foerster" Arctostaphylos Uva-ursi

Brandon Elm Green Ash Red Osier Dogwood Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass Bearberry

native both dry and moist, salt-tolerant native drought-tolerant, salt-tolerant native both dry and moist, no particular to pH both dry and moist, no particular to pH native both dry and moist, salt-tolerant

Dec

winter Jan Feb

Mar

Jun

summer Jul Aug

fall Oct

Sep fall colour fall colour

red branches

flowers

berries

fall colour fall colour

evergreen foliage

flowers

berries

Plant Palette | Plants are selected based on below criteria: cold resistant, salt resistant species that can bring all-sea son interests and withstand harsh environments.

Brandon Elm Green Ash

Karl Foerster Red Osier Red Grass Dogwood

Street Trees Reduce Wind Effect | Wind Downdraft Effect

Bearberry

| Wind Corner Acceleration

Multi-level Group Planting

| Wind Channeling Effect

slope slope

existing poor

Macleod Trail Design Concept | Proposed barrier-free sidewalks with group-planting vegetation, continuous awnings, snow storage areas and outdoor shelters provide a safe/enjoyable streetscape in winter.

spring Apr May

proposed good

lower storage design

raised crosswalk

Provision of Snow Storage Area & Proper Water Drainage | Separated Snow | Water discharges | Raised crossings Storage Area into piping systems reduce ice build-up

existing poor

people flow

car splash

origin

retail/cafe

wind

common name

building facade people flow

snow

latin name

proposed good

Clear Multi-zone Sidewalks | Create room for barrier-free movement and snow storage

Nov

outdoor café with outdoor café with outdoor café with outdoor café with outdoor café with continuous continuous continuous continuous continuous 2-lane 2-lane 2-lane group 2-lane warm service: warm service: warm service: warm service: warm service: seasonal seasonal seasonal seasonal group seasonal group 2-lane group group awnings awnings lighting awnings awnings awnings way way plantation way blankets, heaters blankets, heaters blankets, heaters blankets, heaters blankets, heaters lighting lightingway lighting plantation lighting plantationway plantation plantation

Improve crosswalk with plants and patterns

Red Osier Dogwood

Trees direct the movement a

Outdoor café with ‘warm’ service Activate building façade with stores

Proposed Residential Building

a

Redesigned commercial street with ground-floor Stores/Cafes

Section a-a Looking North The multi-level planting method groups different plants together for providing better wind barriers and protecting people from traffic and car splash. This works better than planting street trees in a row only.

Temporary street parking

continuous continuous seasonal awnings awnings lighting

Two-lane road

seasonal 2-lane lighting way

2-lane group group way plantation plantation

outdoor café with outdoor café with warm service: warm service: blankets, heaters blankets, heaters

fire pit

Continuous facades with awnings b

Central Library

3rd St. SE

b

Raised crosswalks c

c

Section b-b Looking North Offering appropriate winter amenities or features to people is important. These features can be small offers like blankets, heaters, or warm colours, proper materials, seasonal lightings in the urban environment.

Snow storage area

Bearberry Karl Foerster Reed Grass Bus shelter with heater

continuous 2-lane group snow seasonal site-specific trees, awnings way plantation storage lighting shrubs and area groundcovers fire pit

outdoor café with warm service: blankets, heaters

Green Ash Brandon Elm

n 0 12.5 25m

3rd Street Design Concept | The redesigned 2-lane way, ground-floor commercial stores along the municipal buildings and site-specific landscape design provide a better quality of winter-city environment.

Section c-c Looking North Habitable outdoor spaces encourage winter activities if heaters/blankets are provided in the public space.

Proper snow storage areas increase safety and improve winter-city comfort.

The Morphology of Urban Repair Calgary East Downtown Olympic Plaza Renewal Master Plan : Reimagining the civic plaza and Calgary culture district

Daeun Diane Lee

Senior Landscape Architecture Studio EVDL777 | Winter 2020 | Instructor: Dr. Beverly Sandalack Master of Landscape Architecture | School of Architecture Planning and Landscape | University of Calgary

The Morphology of Urban Repair Calgary East Downtown Olympic Plaza Renewal Master Plan : Reimagining the civic plaza and Calgary culture district

Significant demographic shifts are taking place across the North America, and Calgary is no exception.

More people have chosen to live in urban clustered living environments, and Calgary is responding to this global shift. Plus, people have higher expectations for quality public realms and cultural richness than ever before. Given this, Calgary’s city core requires work.

In view of these trends, what can we do for the downtown core, which at present consists of a mixture of heritage and under-utilized buildings? How can we convert what can be changed to create a more integrated and culturally vibrant living environment that responds to the ever-growing demand? Perhaps we also need radical thinking that can result in new ways of thinking about the core.

Doing a makeover of the public plaza is probably the most cost-effective way to reinvigorate the surrounding environment. The primary design feature is the refurbished skate rink - reflection pond, which combines with an outdoor event stage. Proposed cultural centre and abundant sitting and gathering spaces among the green canopy will play a key role in developing its vicinity in succession and reimagining the fabric of downtown Calgary.

This report carefully analyzes how the Olympic Plaza and surrounding area presently works and suggests design decisions based on the research results. Below is a overview of the report.

Main Issues Poor permeability and dissonant edge conditions Scattered features discourage visiting the plaza Under-utilized spaces result in a stark desolate plaza Key considerations 1. Preserve Olympic and civic legacies 2. Response to surrounding environment 3. Increase connectivity by distinguishing the main axis to ancillary destinations 4. Formulate further suggestions for better connectivity 5. Suggest an adaptable multi-purpose venue 6. Consider how user groups are currently using the plaza 7. Design for all seasons 8. Arrange suitable program use on environmentally fitting location 9. Rethink inactive spaces to align with city’s vision Vision Enhance cultural and physical connectivities Increase active open spaces with clear visibility for better public realm Encourage re-imagining of the downtown cultural district

Daeun Diane Lee

Senior Landscape Architecture Studio EVDL777 | Winter 2020 | Instructor: Dr. Beverly Sandalack Master of Landscape Architecture | School of Architecture Planning and Landscape | University of Calgary

Greenspace

Site location

1. Visitor - By Public transportation

1.Preserve Olympic and civic legacies SIXTH AVENUE SE

BOW VALLEY COLLEGE

Ground Parking

Civic Institution

SOUTH

EB CENTRE ST. STN

CITY HALL STN

OLD CITY HALL

RIV

STEPHEN AVENUE

ER

ER W ALK

FIRST STREET SE

BOW RIV

Doner’s Brick Location

MACLEOD TRAIL N.

CALGARY CONVENTION CENTRE

GLENBOW MUSEUM

CHINA TOWN

ARTS COMMONS

2.Response to surrounding environment NINTH AVENUE SE

2. Visitor - By Vehicle

BOW VALLEY COLLEGE

CONVENTION CENTRE

OLYMPIC PLAZA

STEPHEN AVENUE

CITY HALL AND MUNICIPAL BUILDING

Retail / Eatery Recreation Civic Institution Education Office Church

Land use - Open Space CALGARY CENTRAL LIBRARY

ARTS COMMONS

STUDIO BELL

CALGARY TOWER

3.Increase connectivity by distinguishing the main axis to ancillary destinations

3. Student

The sunniest area throughout the year

4.Formulate further suggestions for better connectivity SIXTH AVENUE SE

5 MIN WALKING DISTANCE

BOW VALLEY COLLEGE SOUTH

WEST

EB CENTRE ST. STN

SOUTH

CITY HALL STN

OLD CITY HALL CALGARY CONVENTION CENTRE

OLYMPIC PLAZA

4. Resident

Further development suggested

MACLEOD TRAIL N.

BOW VALLEY COLLEGE

STEPHEN AVENUE

GLENBOW MUSEUM

FIRST STREET SE

BOW VALLEY COLLEGE

ARTS COMMONS

SIXTH AVENUE SE

BMO CENTRE

5.Suggest an adaptable multi-purpose venue NINTH AVENUE SE

Sun and Shade Study

ROCKY MOUNTAIN COURT

ENTRY 4.3

4.1 4.1

4.4

STEPHEN AVENUE

4.1

ENTRY

RECREATION

4.2

1.4

ENTRY 1.2 1.1 MAIN ENTRY POINT 1.2 ACCESS FROM STEPHEN AVE 1.3 TO MUNICIPAL BUILDING 1.4 FROM HISTORIC CITY HALL 1.5 TO ENGINEERED AIR THEATRE

STEPHEN AVENUE

2.1

1.1 MAIN ENTRY POINT 1.2 ACCESS FROM STEPHEN AVE 2.2 1.3 TO MUNICIPAL BUILDING 1.4 FROM HISTORIC CITY HALL 2.4 1.5 TO ENGINEERED AIR THEATRE

5. Office worker

STATIC ACTIVITY

2.1 SEASONAL ACTIVITY 3.1 GROUP SITTING -SKATE RINK / REFLECTION POND 3.2 SECONDARY ENTRANCE POINT 2.2 TERRACED LAWN / OPEN SITTING TO THE PLAZA 2.3 COMMERCIAL OLD -SKATE HUT / TEATRO PATIO 2.4 TERRACE - VIEW TO THE PLAZA CITY HALL 2.5 ARTS COMMON SERVICE AREA -ENTRY / VEHICLE LANDING / EATERY

ACTIVE STATIC ACTIVITY 3.1 2.1 SEASONAL ACTIVITY 3.1 GROUP SITTING 2.2 -SKATE RINK / REFLECTION POND 3.2 SECONDARY ENTRANCE POINT

4.1 INADEQUADE PROGRAM 4.2 UNDERUTILIZED AREA -NOT IN USED FOR INITIAL PURPOSE 4.3 DEDICATED TO CITY PARK DEPT. -STORAGE, MAINTENANCE SHED 4.4 ELEVATED LANDING - BARRIER

INACTIVE

4.1 INADEQUADE PROGRAM 4.2 UNDERUTILIZED AREA 2.2 TERRACED LAWN / OPEN SITTING TO THE PLAZA -NOT IN USED FOR INITIAL PURPOSE CALGARY 2.3 COMMERCIAL 4.3 DEDICATED TO CITY PARK DEPT. -SKATE HUT / TEATRO PATIO -STORAGE, MAINTENANCE SHED PUBLIC 2.4 TERRACE - VIEW TO THE 4.2 PLAZA 4.4 ELEVATED LANDING - BARRIER ACTIVE2.3 STATIC ACTIVITY INACTIVE LIBRARY 2.5 ARTS COMMON SERVICE AREA -ENTRY 2.5 1.3 / VEHICLE LANDING / EATERY 4.1 INADEQUADE PROGRAM 2.1 SEASONAL ACTIVITY 3.1 GROUP SITTING -SKATE RINK / REFLECTION POND 3.2 SECONDARY ENTRANCE POINT 4.2 UNDERUTILIZED AREA 2.2 TERRACED LAWN / OPEN SITTING TO THE PLAZA -NOT IN USED FOR INITIAL PURPOSE 2.3 COMMERCIAL 4.3 DEDICATED TO CITY PARK DEPT. -SKATE HUT / TEATRO PATIO -STORAGE, MAINTENANCE SHED 2.4 TERRACE - VIEW TO THE PLAZA 4.4 ELEVATED LANDING - BARRIER 2.5 ARTS COMMON SERVICE AREA / VEHICLE LANDING / EATERY -ENTRY ARTS

User groups and movement

1.5

4.4

INACTIVE 4.1 INADEQUADE PROGRAM 4.2 UNDERUTILIZED AREA -NOT IN USED FOR INITIAL PURPOSE 4.3 DEDICATED TO CITY PARK DEPT. -STORAGE, MAINTENANCE SHED 4.4 ELEVATED LANDING - BARRIER

-Student -Homeless -Visitors -Residents -Office Worker

INACTIVE

6. Homeless or vagarant

Olympic plaza current COMMONS Open Spaces Analysis

GLENBOW MUSEUM

STATIC ACTIVITY

3.1 GROUP SITTING -SKATE RINK / REFLECTION POND 3.2 SECONDARY ENTRANCE POINT 2.2 TERRACED LAWN / OPEN SITTING TO THE PLAZA 2.3 COMMERCIAL -SKATE HUT / TEATRO PATIO 2.4 TERRACE - VIEW TO THE PLAZA 2.5 ARTS COMMON SERVICE AREA -ENTRY / VEHICLE LANDING / EATERY

THIRD STREET S.E.

Site Context

2.3 3.2

FIRST STREET SE

UNDERUTILIZED LAND USE BLOCK

3.1

SOUTH 2.1 SEASONAL ACTIVITY

1.1 MAIN ENTRY POINT 1.2 ACCESS FROM STEPHEN AVE 1.3 TO MUNICIPAL BUILDING 1.4 FROM HISTORIC CITY HALL 1.5 TO1.1 ENGINEERED AIR THEATRE

4.3

CALGARY CONVENTION CENTRE

CIVIC INSTITUTION

CITY HALL ACTIVE STN

ENTRY

EB CENTRE ST. STN

MACLEOD TRAIL N.

OLYMPIC PLAZA

BOW VALLEY COLLEGE ACTIVE

1.1 MAIN ENTRY POINT 1.2 ACCESS FROM STEPHEN AVE 1.3 TO MUNICIPAL BUILDING 1.4 FROM HISTORIC CITY HALL 1.5 TO ENGINEERED AIR THEATRE

ROCKY MOUNTAIN PLAZA

6.Consider how user groups are currently using the plaza

7.Design for all seasons 8.Arrange suitable program use on environmentally fitting location Shadow Study

The sunniest area throughout the year

9. Rethink inactive spaces to align with city’s vision

9 Key considerations

Section Comparison

1

CALGARY ART AND

5 Calgary Municipal Building

2. Distinguished Entry

Olympic Plaza

1

9 2.5m

Street

3.3m

3.3m

3.3m

12m

3.3m

Street

4

8

2 FIRST STREET SE

Current

OLYMPIC PLAZA

3 6

3. Form

Proposed

Olympic Plaza

3.3m

3

OPEN STAGE

4

CALGARY’S TOUR INFO CENTRE SEASONAL OPEN VENDOR OUTDOOR PATIO

5 6

7

STEPHEN AVENUE

Calgary Municipal Building

Olympic Plaza Renewal Master Plan

7

RAMP

8

ARTS COMMON FRONT YARD

9

LOADING DOCK ACCESS TO CULTURE CENTRE

3.3m

O square Terraced Sitting Art and culture Centre - event hall

4. Simplification & Adjustment Seasonal activities -Ground fountain/ Skate rink

Open Stage

5. Refinement

Vehicle Access

6. Concept Plan

Retails Restaurant

St ep

he

nA ve n

ue

Culture Centre

Design development

Site programs

l rai T d

SE

leo

c Ma

O SQUARE

HALL STN 2 CITYCULTURE CENTRE

EB CENTRE ST. STN

MACLEOD TRAIL N.

1. Main Axis

Adaptable Event Venue

MAIN FEATURES

EB CENTRE 1 ST. STN

2

7 EN

PH

E ST

E

8

Doner Brick are partially reused for the siding material of square, and shade structure provided.

1

3 6

5 4

MAIN FEATURES

1

O SQUARE

Olympic shaped Ground fountain Skate rink.

Event space “Olympic Square”

AC L

D

TR

AI

L

2

3

2

CITY HALL STN

CALGARY ART AND CULTURE CENTRE

4

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

MAIN FEATURES

1

3

A versatile main square located in the middle of the plaza.

Olympic shaped Ground fountain Skate rink.

Event space “Olympic Square”

CALGARY ART AND CULTURE CENTRE A green house -themed theatre or gallery venue, integrated with ground floor retails that are directly accessible from the street

3

OPEN STAGE

OPEN STAGE

5

Slightly higher than the ground level but still farily flat to increase accessbility and encourage its use to everyone

4

CALGARY’S TOUR INFO CENTRE

6

6

OUTDOOR PATIO Serve Teatro and proposed restaurant on the main floor of the Culture Centre

7

RAMP

SEASONAL OPEN VENDOR

8

ARTS COMMON FRONT YARD

Located north edge of the Plaza, offers seasonal retail opportunity

9

LOADING DOCK ACCESS TO CULTURE CENTRE

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

5

SEASONAL OPEN VENDOR Located north edge of the Plaza, offers seasonal retail opportunity

Relocate to the NE corner of the plaza, to in crease accessibility and regibility of the city centre.

Doner Brick are partially reused for the siding material of square, and shade structure provided.

2

CALGARY’S TOUR INFO CENTRE Relocate to the NE corner of the plaza, to in crease accessibility and regibility of the city centre.

A green house -themed theatre or gallery venue, integrated with ground floor retails that are directly accessible from the street

O SQUARE

OPEN STAGE Slightly higher than the ground level but still farily flat to increase accessbility and encourage its use to everyone

Doner Brick are partially reused for the siding material of square, and shade structure provided.

N.

CALGARY ART AND CULTURE CENTRE A green house -themed theatre or gallery venue, integrated with ground floor retails that are directly accessible from the street

A versatile main square located in the middle of the plaza.

M

EO

A versatile main square located in the middle of the plaza.

Olympic shaped Ground fountain Skate rink.

Event space “Olympic Square”

NU

E AV

O SQUARE

OUTDOOR PATIO Serve Teatro and proposed

The Morphology of Urban Repair Calgary East Downtown Calgary’s Civic District: Redefining Calgary East Downtown

Connie Tran

Senior Landscape Architecture Studio EVDL777 | Winter 2020 | Instructor: Dr. Beverly Sandalack Master of Landscape Architecture | School of Architecture Planning and Landscape | University of Calgary

The Morphology of Urban Repair Calgary East Downtown Calgary’s Civic District: Redefining Calgary East Downtown

Calgary’s Downtown Core is central to the city’s daily function and has become an important hub as it is the epicenter of economics and shopping. In 1883, the Canadian Pacific Railway arrived in Calgary and the town was incorporated in 1884. Since then, the city grew from what is now East Downtown, and the downtown core grew taller as an oil boom and by laws allowed it to in the 1950s.

Current East Downtown is characterized primarily by commercial office buildings with some administrative and institutional buildings. The road network is shaped in a grid-like pattern and prioritizes vehicular traffic.

The busiest pedestrian areas are along streets with high ground level access and many public transit stops.

Calgary’s East Downtown also have structures to start a civic district which is defined to contain cultural and recreational facilities along-side administrative functions. These current structures include a public library, arts and performance facilities, a museum, a convention centre, a music centre, and the administrative building.

Taking from prominent European and North American cities familiar with mixed-use downtown cores, such as Zurich, Amsterdam, Oslo, and Boston; a conceptual district master plan was developed to answer the 3 key issues of East Downtown. These issues are the transit station is not a hub, Macleod Trail is a pedestrian barrier, and there is a lack of residents in the area. The conceptual district master plan is developed with bold moves to ensure that the public realm is read as one cohesive space, a place that Calgarians can call the Heart of the city and for visitors to comprehend easily. The big moves include a mixed-use transit hub and municipal building, a linear plaza in place of Macleod Trail, and residential ring.

Connie Tran

Senior Landscape Architecture Studio EVDL777 | Winter 2020 | Instructor: Dr. Beverly Sandalack Master of Landscape Architecture | School of Architecture Planning and Landscape | University of Calgary

1883 - CPR arrives in Calgary, a town is established shortly after SAIT/ - Calgary City Hall 1909 Southern Alberta Jubilee Oil boom leading to economic core in downtown 1940sAuditorium/

B

To North West

CENTRE STREET

Eau Claire Market

OW

!

MO

RIA

LD

City Hall Station Calgary East Downtown

Crowded Macleod Trail Calgary East Downtown

Riverfront Point Residential Calgary East Downtown

Station is Not a Hub Lack of amenities and services within the station

Macleod Trail is a Barrier 5 lanes is a deterrent for pedestrians and public life

Lack of Residents Handful of residential buildings in area are high rise, not mid-rise

RIV

E !

!

!

! !

!

!

!

!

! !

!

Fort Calgary

NINTH AVE S

BO

W

ER

RIV ER RIV W BO

st

EL

Ea

FOURTH ST S

th

FIFTH ST S

Inglewood Main Street

ou

!

S To

To South

17 Avenue Main

!

BMO Centre

h East

To Nort

Calgary Zoo

!

!

City Hall

Telus Convention Centre

Municipal Building

8 Ave Glenbow Museum

To East

3 st

Macleod Tr

1 St

Centre St

Street Calgary’s Downtown Core, central to the city’s economic functions, Calgary Stampede is located near many amenities andParkattractions. Many ofCanadian the city’s Repsol Sport Centre Pacific Railway prominent roadways and transit routes intersect here.

9 Ave

Mid-Rise Mixed-Use Residential Zurich / Amsterdam Density to support community

Telus SPARKS Science Centre

ME

!

To West

7 Ave

Burial of Highway Oslo / Boston Cause for a robust public realm

IL

Prince’s Island Park

Mixed-Use Main Train Station Zurich / Amsterdam Hubs for everyday life

RA

R

VE

RI

TT OO

!

Kensington Main Street

RF

ACAD

E DE

To North

!

Arts Common

Central Library National Music Centre

CPR

The Start of a Civic District A civic district includes cultural and recreational facilities along-side administrative buildings, some of which the area has.

B O W

Rive

nt A ve

R I V E R

Macleod Tr

1 St

Centre St

rfro

10

4 Ave

8

8 7

5 Ave

1

City Hall Olympic Plaza

2

Transit Hub/New Municipal Building

3

Arts and Cultural Facility

4

Stephen Ave. and Cultural Facilities

5

Hotel

6

Recreational Facilities

7

Education Facilities

8

Residential Buildings

9

Central Library

10

Cycle Lane

City Hall Station and Municipal Building as a Transit Hub

Transit hub open interface with plaza space Viadukt, Zurich, Switzerland

Removal of Macleod Trail at ground level between 6 Avenue and 9 Avenue

Conversion of Macleod Trail to a linear plaza Big Dig - Boston Greenway, USA

Envelope the district with a ring of residential buildings

Mixed-use residential with robust public realm interaction Stephen Ave, Calgary. Artist: Thu Ngo

7

6 6 Ave

6

5

8 7 Ave

2 1

8 Ave

4

9 3

8

3

9 Ave

5

8

8

10

9 Ave

CPR

Conceptual District Master Plan Project goals are to redefine Calgary East Downtown as the Civic District.

Conceptual district master plan will increase daily interaction, accessibility, and perceived safety.

Multipurpose District Redevelopment of the land use plan to incorporate diverse functions and more residential. Map 1 by EVDL 777 Class

People Oriented Breaking through Macleod Trail and Municipal Building to connect 8 Ave to Central Library.

Recreation Facility

A Destination for All Creating a destination rather than a thorough space to increase interactivity. Analysis by: Arezoo, Karly, Thu, Connie

Bow Valley College

Playground

Ice Rink/ Wading Pool

Plaza Design Considerations City Hall as central focus of the design

Telus Convention Centre

Visitor Centre

City Hall

Transit Hub/ Municipal Building

Example of linear park Beekman St Plaza, Plattsburg, New York, USA

Teatro Olympic Plaza Central Library Glenbow Museum

Original sketch of the purpose current Municipal Building by Christopher Ballyn

Arts Common

Cultural Facility

Conceptual Plan of City Hall Olympic Plaza Reimagined City Hall and Olympic Plaza blocks to serve as a self contained hub for the district

Recreational Facility and public space look and feel City Museum, St Louis / Splash Pool, Viadukt, Zurich / Klyde Warren Park, Dallas, Texas

Transit Hub can open as such Markthal, Rotterdam, Netherlands

The Morphology of Urban Repair Calgary East Downtown When Meaning Met Meaningfulness: Revealing + Celebrating Calgary’s Civic Heart

Karly Do

Senior Landscape Architecture Studio EVDL777 | Winter 2020 | Instructor: Dr. Beverly Sandalack Master of Landscape Architecture | School of Architecture Planning and Landscape | University of Calgary

The Morphology of Urban Repair Calgary East Downtown When Meaning Met Meaningfulness: Revealing + Celebrating Calgary’s Civic Heart

I think that it’s in our nature to wonder about meaning. From expanding our vocabulary to reading another person’s body language, we are constantly asking ourselves “What does that mean?”, whether we know it or not. I find myself asking this question quite often and the following thoughts have occupied my mind while learning about landscape architecture and urban design over the past 3 years: what is the meaning of a place? What does it mean to be meaningful? And are meaning and meaningfulness the same thing?

Calgary’s East Downtown is full of places that have an important meaning to what makes up a “Civic Heart”: from the library to the Arts Commons to City Hall and the plethora of social services available in this area, this part of downtown offers the opportunity for people from all walks of life to feel welcome and included.

Though it has an important meaning, East Downtown is not meaningful; it’s not a place where people typically visit for leisure and have a personal sentiment attached. It’s not easy to navigate between these places with meaning because the public realm does not currently offer any sort of intuitive wayfinding tool that implies that these places have a relationship to one another. The proposal is a circulator route that reveals Calgary’s Civic Heart by linking the places with meaning through a meaningful, high quality public realm that encourages people to visit, linger, and get to know the Civic Heart.

The proposal also includes a reimagination of the block currently occupied by Old City Hall and the Municipal Building. By breathing new life into the site with the addition of a new opera house and new building forms that embrace both sides of the block, this site will become a new and welcoming entrance to the circulator route via City Hall C-train station.

Karly Do

Senior Landscape Architecture Studio EVDL777 | Winter 2020 | Instructor: Dr. Beverly Sandalack Master of Landscape Architecture | School of Architecture Planning and Landscape | University of Calgary

Calgary’s Civic Heart Institutional Social services Open spaces Administration Cultural

Bench Tree

Standing Sitting

Centre St S

Meaning: Designated Historic Resources

X O

++ +

+ +

o

o

3 Ave SE

+++ ++ o

++

++

Chinatown What is the meaning of this place? The contents of Calgary’s Civic Heart 13 frontages/100m

13 facade signs

Grade B frontage*

Meaningfulness: Pedestrian experience in Chinatown 14 frontages/100m

o

++

+

o

o + + Ste ++ +++Av o++phen + +e

Stephen Avenue 15 facade signs

Grade B frontage* + +

Meaning: Landmarks

1 St SE

+

Meaningfulness: Pedestrian experience in Stephen Avenue Chinatown

2 frontages/100m

o facade signs

Grade E frontage*

What is this place in between?

Meaningfulness: Pedestrian experience at the Harry Hays Building 2 frontages/100m

1 facade sign

Grade E frontage*

Macleod Tr SE

Harry Hays Building

Landmarks and Corporations

Stephen Avenue

4 Ave SE

+

East Village

Meaning: Districts

Meaningfulness: Pedestrian experience at the Municipal Building * According to the Urban Design Compendium

Municipal Building

++ ++

+ + + ++ oo +o +

Centre St S

Meaning: Places with Social Significance

13

Plaza gardens

1 Calgary Tower

18m

5 Olympic Plaza

Macleod Tr SE

1m

6.7m

1m

18m

6 Arts Commons

7 New Municipal Building* 3 St SE

1 St SE

Mixed use/ residential development

3 Telus Convention Centre 4 Glenbow Museum

Centre St S

Cafe seating

2 Stephen Avenue

12 14

11

Planted buffer

Planted buffer

8 Opera House*

4 Ave SE

9 Central Library

River promenade

10 Education Complex 11 Science Center*

Planted buffer

12 Botanical Garden*

Planted buffer

Employment center

13 Bow River

5 Ave SE

14 Chinatown

16

15 Family of Man sculpture

15

16 The Bow 17 Telus Sky

6 Ave SE

19m

1m

6.7m

1m

14m

* Proposed development

17 10

Transitional passage

7 Ave SE

Olympic Plaza 5

Old City Hall

7

9

2 3

4

1

6

Pedestrian-only road

20m

6.7m

20m

8

9 Ave SE

50m

The proposed circulator route links the places that define our Civic Heart.

Cultural promenade River promenade Science Center

Transitional passage

Mixed-use development

Municipal building Cultural promenade

Precedent Studies Confederation Boulevard | Ottawa

Civic Center | San Francisco

National Mall | Washington

Opera house

Experiential segments and proposed developments

Materials palette

1

Double row of elm

2

Railroad pergola

3

Car-free Macelod Tr

4

Planting beds

5

Old City Hall gardens

6

Planted buffer

7

Benches

8

Relocated crosswalk

9

Retail

Retail

Offices

Old City Hall A

Offices New Municipal Building

Oblique view of the plaza Cafe

City Hall station

B

B’ Retail Cafe A’

Opera House

View from Macleod Trail towards Municipal Building entrance

Retail Retail

50m

The New Municipal Building and Opera House breathes new life into the block

Double row of elm trees Old City Hall

Opera House

Double row of elm trees Double row of elm trees

6m

Double row of elm trees

Railroad pergola

Railroad pergola

50m

Section AA’

Double row of elm trees

View from Opera House entrance towards railroad pergola

25m

6.7m

Section BB’

12m

2m

6m

2m

Materials palette

The Morphology of Urban Repair East Downtown Calgary Park Network Masterplan

Sheri DeBoer

Senior Landscape Architecture Studio EVDL777 | Winter 2020 | Instructor: Dr. Beverly Sandalack Master of Landscape Architecture | School of Architecture Planning and Landscape | University of Calgary

The Morphology of Urban Repair East Downtown Calgary Park Network Masterplan

East Downtown Calgary is in need of revitalization. It boasts successful landmarks such as the City Hall, new Central Library, Olympic Park, The Bow Tower, Steven Avenue, China Town and art destinations that can attract people and contribute to the culture and vitality of the City. The landmarks, however lack an inviting public realm to connect them to eachother and to the Bow River as a recreational amenity. The streets feels hostile and unsafe, and the sidewalks, parks and plazas are underutilized or unwelcoming. The area has the second highest crime rate in the City, a lack of diversity of people. The amount of park space within east downtown also under-serves the population as it lacks in area and quality for the residents that currently live in there. With that, the ecology is composed of untreated stormwater runoff flowing straight in to the river, buildings within the floodway, and a heat island effect raising the temperature above natural conditions.

The goal of this project is to the repair the urban realm while of creating social equity and safety, ecological resilience, and connectivity. This will be achieved through a park network masterplan that will address the issues of the area and inject vibrancy to the streets.

With the addition of new mixed-use multi-family complexes to increase the residential population, the masterplan will increase parks space and pedestrian realm that will populate the streets and become a destination for visitors and tourists alike. The park network will take over two streets to create car-free linear parks that take over the entire public realm, from building to building. Steven Avenue is to be connected all the way through the East Village, and smaller collector parks will serve the local users. The network masterplan will create ecological robustness, health, and happiness and a new injection of life into East Downtown.

Sheri DeBoer

Senior Landscape Architecture Studio EVDL777 | Winter 2020 | Instructor: Dr. Beverly Sandalack Master of Landscape Architecture | School of Architecture Planning and Landscape | University of Calgary

Bow River

China Town District

Prince’s Island

Eau Claire

China Town

Bow River Pathway

Park Network C - Train

Downtown Core

East Village

Downtown West End

Fort Calgary

Elbow River

Saint Patrick’s Island

Pearce Estate

L

Bow

Bow Valley College

Bow Tower

Non-Point Source Stormwater Plume

ok Par

k

Sien

Project Context

Riv er P ath

wa y

Short

Olym

Bo w

rk Pa

Valley

87% Impermeable Surfaces

Olympic Plaza

P pic laz

Cit

Hall Pa rk

y

Stormwater Flow

k Poc et

rk Pa

9Ave

Municipal Bldg

Glenbow Museum

a

Residential Support Services

Estimated 3,772 Residents

of Ma ily

n

Fam

es

rk Pa

Ja m

Bird Sanctuary

8% of Area is Park

Collect and Divert Stormwater

Steven Avenue

Arts Commons

East Downtown Landmarks

Utilitarian One-Way Streets

Three pillars to address the issues will create a robust park network and inject vibrancy to the area.

Blank Walls and Few Entrances

New Central Library

Existing Features

Strategy

Evapotranspiration

River Front Low Rise Mixed Use

1

Precipitation

City Beautiful Formality

2

Filtration Detention Retention

10

12

11

3

4

8

Environmental Factors Topography + Stormwater + Flood Zones

5

Masterplan to include fine grained & permeable mixed use residential buildings

Strategy to Overlay City Beautiful with ecological principals on the current structure

Bow

r

e Pl a

H Olympic Plaza

lC

onnec tio

Cit

n

Steven Avenue

Perspective View of 1st Street SE

y Hal

Meet

mily of

tivat

Ac

n Pa

Fa

Pl a z a

Ma

ling G ea

d en ar

Up

Calgary Tower Park Network Masterplan

Linear Parks

Rive

rk

Corn

e rs

ed

6

y

Activ

k

China

ar

wn P To

150m

300m

7

3

Park Network Structure

Fort Calgary Perspective View of 3rd Street SE

4

Draw in the people from the towers. Lunch stop for meetup

5

Street Plazas to connect the important intersections

9

Park space for the Calgary Tower Better connection from Olympic Plaza and City hall. Provide place for transit users Pocket Park from the library and grocery, across from Bow Valley Pocket park outside the church providing refuge from the train and meeting place

Student Residences Low Rise Mixed Use

Linear Parks Connecting Parks

Activated corners taking advantage of micro-climate and provide refuge from the intersection

Active park with play elements to draw residential users and bow river users

10 Central park for college residents lunches

3

Medium Rise Mixed Use

3

8

Ecological Strategies

Family of Man Residences

Park for China Town users

6 7

Soil Cells

Built + Structural Form Trees + Buildings + Streets

1 2

Connecting Parks

5

11 Public/Private park for mixed use users 12 Open meadow and forest bathing healing garden

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

2 1

Central Conduit Path Vegetated Plaza Family of Man Park Medium Rise Mixed Use Residences Public/Private Mixed Use Plaza Hill Slide Informal path through Trees

5 Ave SE

7

Municipal Building Glass Hall enue

5

5 Ave SE

8 Av

1 4

6

Continue the connection from 8ave through to the East Village

3 5 7

3

4

2 6

25m

50m

Detail Plan of 1st Street Se Linear park and Family of Man Park.

The park utilizes the entire public realm with a central conduit path crossing through.

Sections to determine the space, interest and amenities

25m

50m

6 Ave SE

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Grocery Store Cafe Style Seating Bow Valley College Bench Seating Meandering Vegetation Permeable Paving Stones Street Parking

Detail Plan of 3rd Street SE Linear Park highlighting the tree canopy through the centre and public seating and space for pause.

Collage Visualization of Glass Hall

The Morphology of Urban Repair Calgary East Downtown Life between the Buildings | Street - Building Interface and the Quality of Public Realm

Thu Ngo

Senior Landscape Architecture Studio EVDL777 | Winter 2020 | Instructor: Dr. Beverly Sandalack Master of Landscape Architecture | School of Architecture Planning and Landscape | University of Calgary

The Morphology of Urban Repair Calgary East Downtown Life between the Buildings | Street - Building Interface and the Quality of Public Realm

The ground level of the urbanism is reserved for people and the public realm. This is where the life of the city truly happens, especially in the transitional zones where the streets meet the buildings. As places of meeting and conciliation, these street – building interfaces should be active, safe, comfortable, and engaging.

During the dynamic transformations of Calgary led by its economic growth, much of the historic commercialresidential urban fabric was removed, making room for huge, single-functional blocks. Wide vehicular streets, “faceless” buildings and depressing sidewalks have soon filled out the city centre. On these streets, people tend to leave than to stay, as such, the city’s cultural and other valuable diversities have no space to manifest.

A vibrant city depends on its livable streets. Buildings and streets are our ecosystems. To nurture their symbiotic relationship, their interface needs to be designed properly so that pedestrian energy can easily penetrate between the duo. After a half-century of misguided obeisance to the needs of automobiles, we have begun the long process of reclaiming our streets for people. This project is devoted to re-imagining the reciprocity between both building and street sides of that symbiosis, aiming at rescuing the ground floor from insignificance and reasserting social, civic and economic values at street level for a more versatile, commercial-efficient, and beautiful urban environment of the city centre.

Thu Ngo

Senior Landscape Architecture Studio EVDL777 | Winter 2020 | Instructor: Dr. Beverly Sandalack Master of Landscape Architecture | School of Architecture Planning and Landscape | University of Calgary

ec

o

gi

c

al

objectives

energy

systems goals

o

l

civic

strategy

economic

above ground air, energy, water, atmosphere

PUBLIC SENSE ON THE STREET

ACTIVE BUILDING - STREET INTERACTION

DENSIFIED GROUND FLOOR

BUILDING - STREET INTERFACE INTERSTITIAL OUTDOOR SPACE

STREET FACADE REFORM

GROUND FLOOR REMIX

vibrant urban environment in Calgary East Downtown

people

ground level services, functionality, aesthetics, public realm underground transportation services, energy management, water cycle

social

goods

interactions

commercial

most active interface

office / institutional

moderate active interface

residential

semi-private interface

Urbanism on three levels: The ground level is reserved for people, and the public realm. This is where the life of the city truly happens, especially at the transition between public and private space, where the street meets the building.

Interactive street-building interfaces could bring together pedestrian energy at street level

Streetwall Discontinuity

Streetwall Discontinuity

Streetwall Discontinuity

Streetwall Discontinuity

Bow Valley College North Campus

Bow Valley College West Campus

Educational Centre Building

Ground floor Zone Windows

6 Avenue SE

140m without entries

Doors

SAPL

Bow Valley College South Campus

Streetwall Discontinuity

Streetwall Discontinuity

Rocky Mountain Plaza

Streetwall Discontinuity

Ground floor Zone

4 Avenue SE

ISSUES

building footprint

shady edge

sunny edge

privately-owned public space (POPS)

4 Avenue SE

Mixed-use Block

POPS

SAPL New Campus

POPS

POPS 5 Avenue SE

6 Avenue SE

Bow Valley College POPS

3 Street SE

Central Art School

Mixed-use Block POPS

3 Street SE

Macleod Trail

5 Avenue SE

Macleod Trail

OPPORTUNITIES

6 Avenue SE current street facade

Interface type 1: Tangent

Interface type 2: Intersect

6 Avenue SE

Mixed-use Block POPS

Mixed-use Block

Bow Valley College

POPS SORCE

POPS 7 Avenue SE

7 Avenue SE

Olympic Plaza

Issue - Opportunity synthesis diagram

City Hall

Interstitial outdoor spaces offer spaces for social mingling and create an internal open space corridor to break up the big blocks.

Interface type 3: Intertwine

YWCA building to be replaced by SAPL New Campus with essential facilities for students

shop

shop

shop

SAPL bookstore

shop shop shop

shop

shop

shop

office

shop

shop

shop

restaurants / cafes retail stores

shop

apartment entrances

shop

shop shop

shop shop

shop

3 Street SE

shop shop

shop

Bow Valley College

shop

shop

shop

shop

foodcourt

shop

shop shop shop

office Macleod Trail

art school

shop shop shop

shop

shop

shop

5 Avenue SE

Street facade reform: proposed 6 Avenue SE facade door

shop

window

shop

shop

office

shop

shop

shop

shop

shop

shop

shop

shop

shop

shop

bookstore Bow Valley College

shop

shop

shop

shop shop

shop

shop

shop

shop

office

foodcourt

shop

shop

shop

6 Avenue SE

SORCE

Rocky Mountain Mixed-use Block New Art School

shop shop

7 Avenue SE

City Hall

Remixing the ground floors with active uses. The more mixed up, the more dynamic and interactive activity pattern can be achieved.

Street facade reform: proposed Macloed Trail SE facade

storefront

classroom

institutionals

SAPL residence

cafe

Bow Valley College North Campus

walk-in offices / services

shop

SAPL

bus stop

sidewalk

Bow Valley College campuses to be remained to contribute the student population to the area.

Mixed-use Block shop

plus 15

bookstore

classroom POPS

sidewalk

art supplies

4 Avenue SE

shop

cafeteria

bookstore

art school patio

plaza

art gallery

restaurant

cafeteria

New Art School with proposed ground floor uses and streetscape to activate the frontage of old Central Educational Building

The Morphology of Urban Repair Calgary East Downtown Center Street Boulevard

Jie Li

Senior Landscape Architecture Studio EVDL777 | Winter 2020 | Instructor: Dr. Beverly Sandalack Master of Landscape Architecture | School of Architecture Planning and Landscape | University of Calgary

The Morphology of Urban Repair East Downtown Calgary Center Street Boulevard

The center street boulevard focuses on creating a linkage and a pedestrian network to weaken the interruptions created by skyscrapers and traffic barriers. This plan is also seeking ways to preserve the respective characteristics of different places with distinctive cultural backgrounds.

I am interested in the Center Street area is because I am interested in walkability and connections.

Since the center street links to two major pedestrian districts, China Town and Stephen Ave., the issues I found through the analysis are in the middle part of this street, it doesn’t possess a strong sense of place that was pedestrian-friendly. I found there are lots of narrow setbacks along the sidewalk, and no enough room for waiting for buses or for sitting. Furthermore, the tall Bow Tower creates a freezing wind tunnel in the center of this street along with other skyscrapers, and there are not enough shelters and benches to provide comfortable outdoor space for people to stay and to enjoy.

In order to look for the answers, I did research on precedent projects, and I found a lot of useful ideas and inspired by NACTO, SASAKI, and St. Joan Boulevard.

In the end, I created my strategies to repair the public realm between the two major dense pedestrian districts, China Town and Stephen Ave. My strategies are proposing new residential and mixed-use buildings to invite future city users, and to propose a bulb-outs design to enhance pedestrians ‘safety and stormwater management. Moreover, I am using planting strategies to provide four-season interest and shelters.

Jie Li

Senior Landscape Architecture Studio EVDL777 | Winter 2020 | Instructor: Dr. Beverly Sandalack Master of Landscape Architecture | School of Architecture Planning and Landscape | University of Calgary

Issues Identify: The street lacks a pedestrianfriendly public realm

Master Plan The concept of this plan is to enhance the public realm and repair the connection. The general strategies are to expend the width of the sidewalk, propose bulb-outs in the intersections and shrub hedges along the curb.

General Strategies: Propose bulb-outs design; propose residential& mixed-use buildings; create planting strategies

Street Trees

Street Trees

Shrubs

Ground-level Planting (The Green Lounge) Grasses Japanese lilac

Amur cherry

White cedar

White birth

White cedar

American mountain ash

White cedar

Ground-level Planting

Paving network

Bulb-outs design

Micro clover

red-osier dogwood common juniper

Ivory halo dogwood

Feather reed grass

Blue select fescue Alpine currant

Savin juniper

Pink feather

Blue fescue

Feather reed grass

virginia creeper

Paving network

Miss Kim lilac creeping juniper

The Isometric streetscape includes different layers with applying different approaches (see the left diagrams for details).

Type1. China Town Boulevard

Type2. The Bow Boulevard

Type3. Stephen Ave. Boulevard

Based on the bulb-outs design, the detailed approaches are applied with different characteristics of streets, I divide the center street into three types, China Town, The Bow, and Stephen Avenue. The detailed approaches are applying different types of street trees, ground-level planting, which is my idea of building a “Green Lounge “along the street and using different paving materials to create a united pedestrian network.

Type1. China Town Boulevard

The lilac plants, cherry trees, and other evergreen plants provide four-season interest. Also, I used the sculptures of 12 traditional Chinese Zodiac to create a symbol of this street.

Type2. The Bow Boulevard

I used white birth and evergreen ornamental plants to focus on creating shelters and winter interest. I applied materials with porous recycled concrete and grasses.

Type3. Stephen Ave. Boulevard

The plants aim to provide bright colors with delicate shapes and fine texture. A combination with wider grass gaps and smaller stone patterns is provided in this boulevard to create a rural and nature-friendly feeling.

The Morphology of Urban Repair Calgary East Downtown Rethinking the urban river edge

Christina Peace

Senior Landscape Architecture Studio EVDL777 | Winter 2020 | Instructor: Dr. Beverly Sandalack Master of Landscape Architecture | School of Architecture Planning and Landscape | University of Calgary

The Morphology of Urban Repair East Downtown Calgary Rethinking the urban river edge

As a class, we visited the Civic District on a warmer, sunny day in January. We began our journey at the CBDL and made our way north towards the river on

3 Street SE. Eventually, we reached the river; I remember thinking to myself, ‘this cannot be it’. The journey to the river was anti-climatic and the view to the river was blocked by a wide roadway.

To me, this the best place in the city and the Civic District does not do it justice, unlike East Village or Eau Claire, which leads me to my issue statement:

“The Civic District’s urban edge and the rivers edge are disintegrated.

Because...

1. Busy vehicle-oriented roadways with no strong pedestrian legibility to/from the rivers edge 2. High degree of impermeable surfaces close to the riverfront 3. Uninviting single-use buildings 4. No ‘people places’ along the riverfront 5. Flooding issue due to high degree of impermeability 6. Streets have no connection to/from the river By gaining insight from East Village + Eau Claire and the issues present in the site, I developed a conceptual strategy to bring pedestrians to/from the riverfront and tempt them to stay at the river/urban edge.

Christina Peace

Senior Landscape Architecture Studio EVDL777 | Winter 2020 | Instructor: Dr. Beverly Sandalack Master of Landscape Architecture | School of Architecture Planning and Landscape | University of Calgary

WHAT’S WITH THE CIVIC DISTR?

“

“

3. Uninviting single-use buildings

“

“

“

“

1. Busy vehicle-oriented roadways with no strong pedestrian legibility to/from the rivers edge

2. High degree of impermeable surfaces close to the riverfront

SITE ISSUES

4. No ‘people places’ along the riverfront

5. Flooding issue due to high degree of impermeability

6. Streets have no connection to/from the river

LESSONS LEARNED FROM EAU CLAIRE + EAST VILLAGE LESSON

Pedestrian realm (plazas, open spaces) extend into the urban fabric LESSON Vehicular roadways are set back from the riverfront LESSON Bike lane/cycle tracks to/from riverfront LESSON

Mixed-use building adjacent to riverfront LESSON

Street trees guide pedestrians and increase the quality of the public realm

PROPOSED FINAL FORM

CONCEPTUAL STRATEGY

CONSTRAINT

Allow vehicle access for loading docks

SOLUTION Remove a segment of Riverfront Avenue

SOLUTION

SOLUTION

At pedestrian nodes/gateway to river, strategically place features (plaza, water features, pavilions)

Woonerf style roadways to support pedestrian realm

SOLUTION

Create greenspaces in parking lots close to river

SOLUTION

“

Currently, there is a thin riverfront space in the Civic District with no urban connections

“

Extend the riverfront experience into the urban fabric

“

By creating more greenspaces, better buildings, removing vehicle roads, green streets, and people places

SOLUTION

SOLUTION Add residential buildings with commercial ground floor usage

SOLUTION

Boulevard re-design with bike lanes, green infrastructure, etc.

GREEN PEDESTRIAN BOULEVARD WATER FEATURE

QUIET GARDEN SPACE

BIKE LANES

“

How I got here...

Everything as green

Allow vehicle access for underground parkades

Create pedestrian-friendly intersections

MASTER PLAN

Current

CONSTRAINT

New building configuration and ground floor usage to positively support the public realm

Carved out pathways from building entrances

Final form

MUSIC PAVILION

GREAT LAWN SPACE

RESIDENTS

MIXED USE WOONERF MIXED USE

‘PEOPLE PLACES’

“

By incorporating public and intimate places for people and pedestrian-friendly streets

WINDING ROAD TO SLOW TRAFFIC

1

WOONERF

CAFE

PAVILION

2

3

GAZEBOS WITH SEATING

GREEN PLAZA

GARDENSPACE

RIVERFRONT PLAZA

“

Plaza integrated with Riverwalk will guide pedestrians to/from the riverfront

1 3

2

ELM TREES TO CREATE CANOPY

CONNECTING PEOPLE TO THE RIVER + CIVIC DISTRICT

“

River/urban edge integration at the detail level...

Everything is green

Insert pathways

Cut out green

Blend

GREEN BOULEVARD

GREEN STREETS

“

Immersed in a pedestrian street complemented with seating, shade, and vegetation

“

Blended paving pattern, bulbouts, and vegetation will guide pedestrians toward the river

The Morphology of Urban Repair Calgary East Downtown Inserting Green to East Downtown Calgary

Arezoo Khalili

Senior Landscape Architecture Studio EVDL777 | Winter 2020 | Instructor: Dr. Beverly Sandalack Master of Landscape Architecture | School of Architecture Planning and Landscape | University of Calgary

The Morphology of Urban Repair Calgary East Downtown Inserting Green to East Downtown Calgary

East Downtown Calgary is located in central Calgary and is bordered by Bow river on the North and by CPR mainline tracks on the south, the Elbow River on the east and 14 St on the west.

The evolution of building from 1883 (advent of CPR) until now shows a significant rise in the built area causing loss of green spaces. The East downtown Calgary is 89% impervious surface. The building with their impervious roofs constitutes 29% area of downtown. The streets 32%, sidewalks and plazas 16%, parking lots 12% which makes it only 11% area of green spaces. These impervious surfaces causes issues such as flood and stormwater runoff, heat island and drought, lifeless and colorless downtown and habitat fragmentation.

By Implementing Green infrastructure strategy, the impervious surfaces in downtown will decrease and will benefit water, environment, air and community. The study areas are streets, sidewalks, parking lots, parks and open spaces and buildings. To develop the master plan of green infrastructure network in East downtown Calgary, four specific areas were studied: Four buildings: Harry Hays Building, YWCA, Bookers BBQ & Grill Fourteen surface parking lots Three designated parks (James Short Park, Sien Tok Park and Family of Man Park) The streets connecting these places.

Due to the size and scope of the project. I took a phase approach to develop the master plan.

Phase I: Streets and sidewalks (Transform existing streets to green streets) Phase II: Parking lots, parks (converting all parking lots to parks and enhancing existing parks) Phase III: Buildings (dividing the large blocks into walkable blocks and integrate them with linear parks.

The master plan shows the interconnected parks, open spaces, green spaces and green roofs in downtown.

East gateway is the focused study area to design the green infrastructure network more in detail. The large bioswale parks are designed in place of parking lots to mitigate flooding and urban runoffs. Green streets with Eco-boulevards infiltrate stormwater runoff from the streets. Buildings are mixed-use with green roofs in 4-5 stories are the core activity of the area.

Arezoo Khalili

Senior Landscape Architecture Studio EVDL777 | Winter 2020 | Instructor: Dr. Beverly Sandalack Master of Landscape Architecture | School of Architecture Planning and Landscape | University of Calgary

GOAL

ISSUE

Building Roofs: 29% STRATEGY 100m

Green Infrastructure Network (GIN) Green Infrastructure Network of Parks, Open Spaces and Green Streets

Lifeless & Colorless Downtown

MATERIAL

Decrease Impervious Surface

Heat Island Effect & Drought

WATER

Flood & Stormwater Runoff

COMMUNITY

Habitat Fragmentation

Parking Lots: 12% STUDY AREA 100m

BENEFIT / OUTCOME

ENVIRONMENT

Roads: 32% Sidewalks & Plazas: 16%

POTENTIAL SOLUTION

Infiltrate overland flow Mimic natural hydrology Mitigate flooding Slow and detain runoff

Streets

Narrower paved areas Pervious pavement Eco-Boulevards Curb-Openings Enhancing Urban forestry

Enhance urban biodiversity Increase habitat connectivity Increase urban tree canopy

Parking Lots

GIN of parks Pervious pavements

Decrease Heat Island Effect Optimize the use of land

Parks & Unidentified open spaces

Pervious pavements GIN parks

Enhance the vibrancy & life of the Buildings district Improve site aesthetics

100m

Green roofs Rezoning

Green infrastructure network is an interconnected network of natural areas and open spaces with the ability to absorb stormwater, providing ecological, environmental and socio-economic benefit to the community. The network consists of “green patches” connected through “green corridors”.

Impervious surface area in East Downtown Calgary: 89% Pervious surface area in East Downtown Calgary: 11%

Solar Radiation

Conduction

Conduction

Conduction

Canopy Layer Cooler Micro Climate

Warmer Micro Climate

89% Impervious Surface

Parking Lot

3 St SE

Macleod Trail

1 St SE

Parking Lot

Centre St SW

Heat Island Effect, 4 Ave Heat Island is another issue caused by having excessive impervious surfaces in downtown Calgary. Extreme heat can increase the risk of other types of disasters. Heat can exacerbate drought and will impact human health. Rising temperatures poses a threat to people, ecosystems and the economy.

Centre St NE

Riverfront Ave SW

Bo

Bridgeland-Riverside Neighbourhood

Riv

ont

Activity Core Residential

Ave S

Bo

buildings with Green Roofs

E

Phase I&II: Streets+ Parking lots + Parks

w R ive r

West Gateway

Enhance the access to more parts of the downtown

Centre St NE

1 St SW

Linear Parks

3 Ave SE

Bo

Eco-Parks

r

East Gateway

accessible from all sides 100M

100M

Phase I&II: Green Streets + GI Parks

1 St SE

Infrastructure Parks and

4 Ave SE

w R ive

The east gateway as a large green node, connects users from East village, Bridgeland Riverside, Chinatown and Stampede to the East Downtown

Community Park

Transform the existing parks to Green

connect them to the new park system

er

100M

erfr

2 Ave SE

w R iv

4 Ave SE

4 Ave SE w R iv

er

190 m

Bo

160 m 150 m

90 m

5 Ave SE 4S tS E

SE 5 Ave

150 m

90 m

5 Ave SE

100M

Community Park

7 Ave SE 7 Ave SE

Proposed East Downtown Green Infrastructure Network Master Plan Green Infrastructure Network Master Plan of interconnected parks, open spaces, green streets and green roofs

Activates the urban edges between CTrain and East Village

West Gateway Bo

w R iv

er

4 St SE

3 St SE

Macleod Trail SE

1 St SE

1 St SW

6 Ave SE

Centre St NE

Phase III: Buildings

East Gateway

100M 100M

Phase III: Green Roof Buildings

Evapotranspiration

Evapotranspiration

BridgelandRiverside Neighbourhood

4 st SE

7 Ave Sw Filtration

Runoff

Runoff

Runoff

Bioswale Park

Sidewalk

Urban Forestry

Climate Regulation

3 St Street

Future Mixed-Use

East Village

Vegetated Swale

5 Ave Sw

Evapotranspiration

Bioswale

er

Permeable Paving

SW

Biking Path

w R iv

tA ve

Urban Forestry

Bo

ron

Permeable Paving

erf

Chinatown

Sidewalk

Riv

Green Roof Filtration

Filtration

Filtration

Mission & Stampede

East Gateway is a strategic node for downtown, connected to Bridgeland Riverside neighbourhood from the north, East village from the east, Chinatown from the west, Mission from the south

Section A-A illustrates the transition of green infrastructure facilities from the mixed-use to the bioswale parks in the east gateway

Water flow direction Views

y

SW

Bo

Booker’s BBQ Grill Building

condo Condo

Bo

Riv 17 M

Ri

ve

3

r

Riv

Riv

erW

erf

ay

ding

alk

ron

tA ve

SW

2

Bo

ron

tA ve

2

1

condo

SW

ve 4A

e SE

4 Av

Calgary Drop-in & Rehab Centre

1

e SE 5 Av

E 4S tS

50 M

Issue

Strategy

Flood & Stormwater runoff Heat Island Effect & Drought Lifeless & Colorless Downtown Habitat Fragmentation

Study Area Streets & Sidewalks

Green Infrastructure Network

Solution

(Delay . Discharge . Storage)

Parking lots

1 Eco-Boulevard, Narrower paved area Vegetated swale, Rain garden, vegetated filter strip, Native & drought tolerant vegetation, Biofiltration swale, Curb 2 opening, Urban forestry Permeable paving 3 Large bioswale park, Permeable paving

Buildings

4

Green roofs, Rezoning

The map on the top shows the existing condition of the East gateway in downtown. High volume of water flows into the intersections from the bridge & Urban forestry is not continuous

Future Mixed Use 4

fen

1

e SE

se

4 Av

3

2 2

2

erf

De

4 Ave SE

4 Ave SE

5 Ave SE

Riv

1

3 St SE

3 St SE

YWCA

Ri

Calgary Drop-in & Rehab Centre

3

1

A

ve

r

SE

3

Parking Lot #2

w

Future cafe & 4 restaurant

erf

4 Ave SE

w

or floo

wR

tA ve

Existing Tree

Pa th

ron

1

Catchment Area

wa

erf

alk

ive r

Riv

wR

Parking Lot #1

nse f

thw

erw

Defe

condo

Bo

Condo

Existing parking lot

Pa

Unidentified Grass Cover

Riv

ive r

Access to the river

condo

for

flo

ron

tA ve

SW

od

ing

2

A

2

2 3

1

E

5 Ave S

50 M

East gateway is part of the green infrastructure network in the east downtown Calgary. It is designed to address the issues including the Heat Island Effect, stormwater runoff, colourless downtown, and habitat fragmentation