Submission #23 CLOSE
Option #1 – CH2M HILL Canada Limited (Calgary) and the LeBlond Partnership Architects and Planners
Although we recognize that the intersection of the Elbow and Bow Rivers and nearby Fort Calgary have strong historical associations for many Calgarians, we opted to focus on the city as a modern, increasingly cosmopolitan centre ñ an urban setting that also offers ample opportunities to enjoy its green spaces. The park areas we all enjoy form the backbone of one of the largest city pathway systems in North America.
When the bridge is in place linking St. PatrickÃs Island to those pathways, it will pave the way for yet another desirable urban park destination.
At the same time, CalgaryÃs pathways ó and the associated river crossings in particular ó play a vital role in accommodating commuting pedestrians and cyclists as they move to and from the downtown core. By completing a connection to the north side of the river and linking with pathways to Memorial Drive and the Bridgeland-Memorial LRT station, the St. PatrickÃs Bridge will open up new opportunities for both commuters and recreational users. This will complement and enhance the development within and adjacent to the Rivers District, especially the revitalization of the East Village area with its proposed mixture of residential, commercial and institutional uses, and will link with The Bridges development, the Calgary Zoo, and the future Telus World of Science.
In addition to being a step in the journey to and from downtown and points beyond, a signature bridge at this location will become a destination. It will become more than just an integral part of the pathway system that thousands of Calgarians use year-round. The soaring needle is designed to attract visitors. But once they are there, it will be the bridge itself that encourages exploration. Flared pathway connections at the north and south banks of the river will enable pedestrian and cyclist traffic to enter and exit the bridge from all directions. The bridgeÃs gentle slopes will be accessible for all pedestrians and nonmotorized forms of transportation. The wider-than-standard deck will offer freedom of movement and allow for safe and comfortable separation between cyclists and pedestrians.
The importance of aesthetic lighting to this bridge will be emphasized by CH2M HILLÃs electrical engineers, who with work with the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) to create a stunning priority, however, will be to ensure that the lighting design provides a safe, well-lit passage for users.
Our in-house public review process generated other ideas that would enhance the bridge as a destination. For example, it was suggested that landscaping surrounding the pylon on the island would create a plaza that would both add to and stimulate interest in the revitalization and use of St. PatrickÃs Island. Some of our reviewers also pointed out that the pylon itself could be a prime location for a look-out, ìcrowÃs nestî observation platform. With some slight modification, the centre pylon could easily support an opportunity for a prime location to reflect on the beauty of the park setting and the islandÃs proximity to many Calgary landmarks. Elevator access could be provided external to the pylon, allowing more enjoyment of an observation deck. As the proposal call does not specifically ask for such amenities, we hope that their mention indicates the creative possibilities offered by our team in delivering on the design of this bridge.
Because the bridge will typically only be viewed in its entirety from upstream ñ where it will be seen as a landmark against the park setting ñ and the predominant†views from the bridge will be upstream, the design had to offer an unobstructed view of the downtown skyline. The design selected does not rely on heavy structural elements that would dominate the park environment. The transparency of the cable structure allows for unencumbered views of the island, the Bow River and its surroundings. The bridgeÃs simple curve was intended to complement the shape of the western tip of the island, and the pedestrians crossing will be following that curve, which will offer subtle changes in the view at every step along the way. In this respect, the bridge crossing provides more than just a means of reaching the other side of the river; it becomes a journey.
