Foundations nearly finished as downtown transformation moves forward
Work is advancing on a major downtown Calgary public‑realm and cultural project that aims to reshuffle how Calgarians use the city’s centre. Officials said construction crews have nearly completed the foundations for a redesigned Olympic Plaza, while the neighbouring Werklund Centre expansion is further along and will add new performance spaces.
At a Thursday briefing, project partners offered an update on the two linked undertakings across from Calgary City Hall. The plaza will retain a winter skating rink that converts into a fountain in warmer months, and the Werklund expansion will create sizeable new venues intended to serve a range of arts groups.
What’s being built and when
The cultural facility attached to the Werklund Centre is planned to include a 1,000‑seat theatre and a smaller 200‑seat room. Project leaders said both the plaza revitalization and the Werklund expansion remain on schedule for a 2028 completion.
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Olympic Plaza | Skating rink in winter; fountain in summer; foundations nearly complete |
| Werklund Centre expansion | New 1,000‑seat theatre; new 200‑seat venue; on schedule for 2028 |
| Philanthropy | 200‑seat theatre to carry the McCann name after a $4‑million donation |
Support and expectations from civic leaders
Ward 7 councillor Myke Atkinson framed the new performance spaces as infrastructure for Calgary’s arts scene, saying they will help local artists and companies establish themselves downtown.
“Those kinds of spaces really allow for the local arts community to come in and take root and build the kind of art scene that really thrives,” said Ward 7 Coun. Myke Atkinson.
Project leadership emphasised continued construction activity in the months ahead. Kate Thompson, president and CEO of the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC), outlined progress on the plaza foundations and signalled more infrastructure work will follow as the site moves toward completion.
“The foundations are nearly complete and we’ll see some more infrastructure work in the months to come,” Thompson said.
Philanthropy and programming
Private funding is already shaping part of the project. The smaller theatre will be named for the McCann family after a $4‑million donation. Donor Rodney J. McCann said the capacity of the new spaces will allow a broad range of creators to work there.
“Will create an unparalleled space that will allow a multitude of diverse artists, performers and presenters to call it home,” Rodney J. McCann said.
Officials say the addition of a mid‑sized 200‑seat venue alongside a larger 1,000‑seat theatre should allow greater programming flexibility, accommodating everything from small ensemble productions and experimental work to larger touring productions and civic events.
Implications for downtown Calgary
For residents and businesses in the downtown core, the project represents both short‑term disruption and a longer‑term economic and cultural bet. Construction activity around City Hall has already constrained pedestrian access and altered traffic patterns — conditions that will continue through the build — but city and project leaders argue the finished facilities will draw visitors and support jobs in hospitality and arts sectors.
- Short term: ongoing construction, fencing and infrastructure work around City Hall.
- Medium term: staged openings of new venues and programming builds as operators sign on.
- Long term: potential boost to downtown cultural life and increased use of public space.
With firm elements — seating capacities, a notable donation and a 2028 target — the redevelopment is one of the larger public‑private cultural investments on Calgary’s immediate horizon. How quickly and effectively the new spaces attract artists, audiences and economic activity will shape the downtown’s post‑construction recovery.
