Behind The Build: Infrastructure that Connects a Community

At CMLC, we understand what makes communities vibrant, welcoming, liveable and loveable.

Diversity. Inclusivity. Safety. And of course, connectivity.

In our work to revitalize downtown Calgary’s east end, forging easy connections within and between neighbourhoods has always been top of mind. By investing in infrastructure that keeps people moving—for work and for play—we’re making the city’s downtown more accessible and better connected for everyone.

The 17 Avenue SE extension and Victoria Park/Stampede Station rebuild—our largest street-level infrastructure improvement initiative to date—is a tangible expression of our commitment to connectivity.

From delivering a complex project complicated by unprecedented pandemic conditions to maintaining transit access for thousands of daily riders through all but a few days of construction, CMLC’s dedicated team of city-builders is proud to have opened a new doorway into The C+E—Calgary’s emerging Culture + Entertainment District.

Here’s how we brought the vision to life.

A VISION OF CONNECTIVITY

Celebrating its grand opening on October 10, 2024, the extension of 17 Avenue SE across Macleod Trail and into Stampede Park was identified in the Rivers District Master Plan as a crucial undertaking to improve access between The C+E and the Beltline neighbourhoods to the west.

Along with Stampede Trail and the forthcoming 6 Street SE underpass, the 17 Ave extension and accompanying rebuild of the Victoria Park/Stampede LRT station were designed to improve access to the hundreds of events that take place every year at the newly expanded BMO Centre at Stampede Park, the Scotiabank Saddledome and its future replacement, Scotia Place. They will also support the four million square feet of mixed-use development still to come in The District.

“As our vision for The Culture + Entertainment District unfolds, CMLC is dedicated to developing infrastructure and associated programs that become integral parts of Calgarians' lives—facilitating daily routines, hosting events that define our community and creating a genuine sense of belonging,” says Kate Thompson, President and CEO of CMLC. “Projects like the 17 Ave extension are about so much more than transportation; they’re about building meaningful connections that enrich lives and bring people closer to each other and their city. Strong connections within The C+E support future growth, and our investment in infrastructure is about creating a vibrant, accessible future for all Calgarians.”

CMLC exists to make these connections possible, and we’re uniquely qualified to do it—and do it well.

WELCOMING CALGARIANS BACK THROUGH STAMPEDE PARK'S FRONT DOOR

Built back in 1981 as part of Calgary’s first LRT line, the 40-year-old Victoria Park/Stampede Station was very much in need of a modernizing, accessibility-enhancing overhaul when CMLC initiated the station rebuild in 2021. The centre-loading station required patrons to navigate a series of stairs, ramps, escalators and Plus 15 walkways to cross Macleod Trail and enter Stampede Park. As one of Calgary's busiest LRT stations—serving around 13,000 transit customers daily, with thousands more using the station during the annual Calgary Stampede event—the aging station no longer met the needs of transit riders.

Additionally, the original station’s imposing profile blocked at-grade access to Stampede Park for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists, with 17 Ave coming to an abrupt dead-end at Macleod Trail.

Our solution: reimagine the station to modernize the transit experience while creating a multi-modal entry into Stampede Park for the first time in over four decades.

“With a redesigned, expanded side-loading platform at street level, Victoria Park/Stampede Station now provides an accessible, seamless connection to Stampede Park, shortening the pedestrian journey across Macleod Trail from 400 meters to just 60 while improving sightlines and enhancing pedestrian safety,” says Doug Morgan, General Manager of Operational Services for The City of Calgary. “Together with the 17 Ave SE extension, these upgrades make it easier for thousands of riders to connect with Calgary’s major event destinations and help future-proof The District’s infrastructure for generations to come.”

A 7,200 sq ft public area at the station’s south end offers an inviting gathering space for transit users, while the station’s copper-vaulted canopies and eye-catching oculus (an elliptical backlit glass that brings the vibrant colours of The C+E to life) create a memorable and welcoming sense of arrival.

Meanwhile, the 17 Ave extension’s new three-lane configuration boasts streetscape enhancements such as pavers that mirror the design of Stampede Trail and the BMO Centre and rolled curbs that ensure a smooth transition from daily use to festival conditions for major events like the Calgary Stampede, enhancing safety and the visitor experience.

UNIQUE CHALLENGES AND COMPLEXITIES

As with any major infrastructure project, delivering the 17 Ave SE extension and Victoria Park/Stampede Station rebuild was rife with logistical and engineering complexities. Unlike typical vertical builds, projects of this scale require a nuanced approach to design, construction and phasing due to site constraints, technical specifications and construction conditions. And the team had to coordinate construction with the BMO Centre expansion and Stampede Trail to create a seamless public realm.

The most notable challenge was building an entirely new LRT station on the existing site—directly next to active construction of the monumental BMO Centre expansion—while maintaining reliable and largely uninterrupted transit operations for thousands of daily users. Ensuring the transit hub continued to meet users' needs required meticulous planning, creative problem-solving and precise execution.

Unlike vertical builds where multiple trades can work simultaneously, space constraints at the station strictly limited on-site crew numbers. The team adopted a highly detailed, phased approach, carefully sequencing construction activities and milestones to minimize disruptions while ensuring safety and sustaining functionality.

Navigating a unique set of challenges—including operating an active transit station, adapting to the city’s capricious weather, managing pandemic-related delays at a critical time in the project’s procurement and delivery phases, and navigating market fluctuations—required flexibility, creativity and diligent management.

At CMLC, pushing boundaries is in our DNA. Our team brings together diverse expertise—from planners, architects and project managers to accountants, communicators and placemakers—working collaboratively to bring visionary projects to life. From overseeing every detail of design and construction to managing community impacts, we excel at tackling projects that inspire Calgarians to dream big.

But we couldn’t do it alone. Collaboration was essential to bringing our vision to life as we worked alongside Calgary Transit, the Calgary Stampede and more than 500 skilled workers including demolition crews, structural steelworkers and teams specializing in rail, overhead power, electrical and mechanical systems. Together, they contributed over 450,000 hours to complete the station and extension. This shared commitment to Calgary is what makes transformative projects like this possible.

UNLOCKING THE CULTURE + ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT

As Calgarians and visitors step (or cycle, roll or drive) through the new front door to The District, a new chapter begins for The C+E as a vibrant, inclusive and connected hub for daily life and unforgettable experiences.

The new roadway into The C+E has been named Flores LaDue Parade. Along with Guy Weadick, LaDue came to Calgary in the late 1800s with the vision of creating the world's best rodeo and community celebration. Together, LaDue and Weadick laid the foundation for the formation of the Calgary Stampede in 1912.

“We’re ready to welcome the world and our community with this brand-new entrance into Stampede Park, in a way that celebrates our Western heritage and community spirit,” said Joel Cowley, CEO of the Calgary Stampede. “Naming the new roadway Flores LaDue Parade is a nod to an iconic Calgary Stampede figure and recognizes the spirit of celebration that will happen in this space with the road designation ‘Parade.’ This infrastructure investment represents – and enables – the transformation still to come in The Culture + Entertainment District.”

More than infrastructure, the 17 Ave extension and new LRT station amplify the energy driving The C+E forward. This redefined access will shape how people experience The District—not only during major events at the BMO Centre, Scotiabank Saddledome and upcoming Scotia Place but in everyday moments as well.

We’re honoured to have brought this project to life and to see Calgarians and visitors entering The District just as we envisioned. Thank you, Calgary, for trusting us to shape the future of our city. Watch for the finishing touches on the station canopy and landscaping through spring 2025.

Explore CMLC’s plans for Calgary’s next great neighbourhood in the emerging Culture + Entertainment District.