Inglewood Parking Lot: Thinking Outside the Box

What if the lowly parking lot was more than just a patch of asphalt? Maybe it longs for more: moonlighting as an open-air movie theatre or a weekend performance venue...or doing double-duty as an outdoor art gallery that just happens to make room for vehicles.

“What more could it be?” is the challenge we’re extending in our latest design competition.

Working with Calgary Parking Authority (CPA), CMLC is in the process of selecting a firm (or team) to reimagine a parking lot located at the NE corner of 9th Avenue and 11th Street SE in the neighbourhood of Inglewood. This project presents an exciting placemaking opportunity—to transform one of the least active street corners in Inglewood into something entirely new.

We got the ball rolling in October when we issued an RFQ (request for qualifications). From the baker’s dozen who entered, we selected five to move on to the next stage—submitting detailed design proposals:

• Works of Architecture (Calgary)

• MTA (Calgary/Edmonton)

• Public City Architecture Inc. (Winnipeg)

• Modern Office of Design + Architecture / AZMA / Ryan Murphy Construction (Calgary)

• Sans façon / Zeidler Architecture (Calgary)

Each firm must submit its proposal by the end of November. After we choose the winning design, the successful candidate will work with CPA to bring their innovation to life in spring 2020.