Submission #22 CLOSE
Option #2 – CH2M HILL Canada Limited (Calgary) and the LeBlond Partnership Architects and Planners
The City of Calgary grew from the humble beginnings of Fort Calgary, which was established near the confluence of the Bow and Elbow Rivers. The bridge location is one of the oldest in the history of this modern, growing city. Many of our staff felt that iconic bridges or sculptures may have a place in other parts of our city, but in this area, simple bridges that invite pedestrians and cyclists onto St. PatrickÃs Island would be appropriate.
Although they appear modest, these bridges will be quite unique and, as long-span flat arches, they will be challenging from both engineering and construction perspectives. They will complement the appearance of some of the oldest bridges across the Bow River, such as those at Centre Street, 10 Street, and 14 Street. The arch bridges shown provide a quiet, understated entranceway to St. PatrickÃs Island from Memorial Drive and from the new East Village development.
Proponents of the arch bridges solution see St. PatrickÃs Island as the destination and the bridges as a means to get there. When these bridges are in place, the island will be very accessible and will be available for any planned development.
Viewed from upstream, both bridges will be seen together; from downstream, they will be viewed individually. In either case, they will be seen as part of the park setting. Their elegant curves will add to a relaxed park setting.
Bridge lighting will be a very important part of the work, and we will work with our in-house lighting specialists and local consultants to develop innovative lighting designs that can be adjusted to match the season and will display the bridge in its best light. As anyone who has taken a trip down the Seine in Paris at night will confirm, incorporating colour and special lighting emphasizes the modest beauty of structures of this kind. Our lighting experts will be tasked with the task of creating an innovative lighting system that can be classical but also reflect the energy of our growing city. First and foremost, however, the lighting will be designed to provide a safe, well-lit passage for users crossing the bridge.
