Olympic Plaza Transformation Groundbreaking Partner Package

Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC), Werklund Centre and The City of Calgary have officially broken ground on the Olympic Plaza Transformation project (OPT), marking a major milestone on the revitalization of one of Calgary’s most well-known public spaces.

The Olympic Plaza Transformation, along with the Werklund Centre Transformation (WCT) Expansion and future modernization of the existing Werklund Centre facility, is part of a broader initiative to revitalize a key block of Calgary’s downtown into one of Canada’s most vibrant artistic, cultural and civic destinations.

Media Materials4

  • RELEASE-OPT Groundbreaking.pdf

  • DESIGN STATEMENT_OPT GB May 2026.pdf

  • PROJECT TEAM_OPT GB May 2026.pdf

  • FACT SHEET_OPT GB May 2026.pdf

Renderings & Photography23

  • 01_Eye_Level_Winter_View_Revised-WithLabel.jpg

    View of WCT Expansion from Olympic Plaza

  • 02_Aerial_Evening_View_Revised_Context_Building_Update_A-WithLabel.jpg

    Evening Aerial of WCT and OPT

  • 03_Summer_Aerial_View_Revised_Car Road Fix-WithLabel.jpg

    Summer aerial view of the Olympic Plaza Transformation

  • 04_Winter_Aerial_View_Revised_Car Road Fix-WithLabel.jpg

    Winter aerial view of the Olympic Plaza Transformation

  • 05_Summer_Eye_Level_View_Revised-WithLabel.jpg

    Summer view of Olympic Plaza from Pavilion

  • 06_Pavillion_Interior_Revised-WithLabel.jpg

    Rendering of the interior Pavilion space

  • 07_Evening_Concert_Revised_Car Road Fix-WithLabel.jpg

    Rendering of evening concert in the revitalized Olympic Plaza

  • 08_Summer Evening Eyelevel_Revised-WithLabel.jpg

    Evening view of Olympic Plaza featuring the central water feature

  • 052026-OPT-Site-Photography-1-Courtesy of CMLC.jpg

    Crane moves portion of the stage wall into place on the Osten-Victor Playhouse, the new 1,000-seat theatre in the Werklund Centre Transformation Expansion in May 2026. Photo by Mark Shannon, courtesy of CMLC.

  • 052026-OPT-Site-Photography-2-Courtesy of CMLC.jpg

    Member of the EllisDon construction team working on a wall mold for the Osten-Victor Playhouse, the new 1,000-seat theatre in the Werklund Centre Transformation Expansion in May 2026. Photo by Mark Shannon, courtesy of CMLC..

  • 052026-OPT-Site-Photography-3-Courtesy of CMLC.jpg

    Construction crews mobilize and begin preparing for the construction of the Olympic Plaza Transformation in May 2026. Photo by Mark Shannon, courtesy of CMLC.

  • 052026-OPT-Site-Photography-4-Courtesy of CMLC.jpg

    Construction progresses on the interior staircase, a key architectural feature of the Werklund Centre Transformation Expansion in May 2026. Photo by Mark Shannon, courtesy of CMLC.

  • 052026-OPT-Site-Photography-5-Courtesy of CMLC.jpg

    View of the Werklund Centre Transformation Expansion construction underway, taken from the site of the future Olympic Plaza Transformation prior to construction starting in May 2026. Photo by Mark Shannon, courtesy of CMLC.

  • 052026-OPT-Site-Photography-6-Courtesy of CMLC.jpg

    The Werklund Centre Transformation Expansion rises to ground level in May 2026. Photo by Mark Shannon, courtesy of CMLC..

  • 05282026-OPT-Groundbreaking-Courtesy of CMLC.jpg

    Delegates celebrate ceremonial groundbreaking on the Olympic Plaza Transformation on May 28, 2026. From left to right: Jackie Bromley, Indigenous Advisory Committee member; Mayor Jeromy Farkas; Kate Thompson, President & CEO of Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC); Alex Sarian, President & CEO of Werklund Centre; Tanya Fir, Minster of Arts, Culture and Status of Women; Dave Werklund, Transformational Gift Donor.

  • 05282026-OPT-Groundbreaking-Courtesy of CMLC.jpg

    Kate Thompson, President & CEO of Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) announces the ceremonial groundbreaking of the Olympic Plaza Transformation. Photo by Mark Shannon, courtesy of CMLC.

  • 05282026-OPT-Groundbreaking-Courtesy of CMLC.jpg

    Shovels set up in anticipation of the ceremonial groundbreaking for the Olympic Plaza Transformation on May 28, 2026, over 40 years following the original Olympic Plaza groundbreaking on May 22, 1986. Photo by Mark Shannon, courtesy of CMLC.

  • 05282026-OPT-Groundbreaking-Courtesy of CMLC.jpg

    Transformational gift donor, Dave Werklund celebrates the Olympic Plaza groundbreaking. Photo by Mark Shannon, courtesy of CMLC.

  • 05282026-OPT-Groundbreaking-Courtesy of CMLC.jpg

    Tanya Fir, Minster of Arts, Culture and Status of Women speaks to the importance of Arts and Culture investment for Albertans. Photo by Mark Shannon, courtesy of CMLC.

  • 05282026-OPT-Groundbreaking-Courtesy of CMLC.jpg

    Mayor Jeromy Farkas speaks about the role the Olympic Plaza Transformation and Werklund Centre Transformation will play in the revitalization of Calgary’s downtown core. Photo by Mark Shannon, courtesy of CMLC.

  • 05282026-OPT-Groundbreaking-Courtesy of CMLC.jpg

    Over 100 guests attended the ceremonial groundbreaking for the Olympic Plaza Transformation on May 28, 2026. Photo by Mark Shannon, courtesy of CMLC.

  • 05282026-OPT-Groundbreaking-Courtesy of CMLC.jpg

    Mayor Jeromy Farkas; Kate Thompson, President & CEO of Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC); Alex Sarian, President & CEO of Werklund Centre; and Tanya Fir, Minster of Arts, Culture and Status of Women break ground on the Olympic Plaza Transformation. Photo by Mark Shannon, courtesy of CMLC.

  • 05282026-OPT-Groundbreaking-Courtesy of CMLC.jpg

    The Olympic Plaza Transformation project team gathers on-site for the ceremonial groundbreaking of the plaza on May 28, 2026. Photo by Mark Shannon, courtesy of CMLC.

Social Media Handles35

  • CMLC

  • Werklund Centre

  • The City of Calgary

  • Government of Alberta

  • gh3* Architecture, Urban Design & Landscape Architecture

  • CCxA Landscape Architecture & Urban Design

  • Belleville Placemaking

  • Colliers Project Leaders

  • EllisDon

Key Messages6

  • 1

    Olympic Plaza Transformation (OPT), along with the two-phased Werklund Centre Transformation (WCT) – the 170,000 sq. ft. Expansion and Mondernization of the existing facility – will bring increased vibrancy, economic activity, and cultural investment to the city’s core.

  • 2

    The Olympic Plaza Transformation will be completed in 2028, alongside the first phase of the Werklund Centre Transformation.

  • 3

    The groundbreaking marks an exciting next step in the evolution of this 37-year old plaza—one that will see the space developed into a modern, vibrant and inclusive space for Calgarians and visitors to enjoy for generations to come.

  • 4

    The revitalized plaza will be an accessible public gathering space with flexibility and infrastructure to support a range of day-to-day uses, as well as markets, programs, and major events of up to 5,000 people.

  • 5

    The Olympic Plaza Transformation is designed as an outdoor cultural space that will welcome visitors year-round, featuring a skating rink in winter and a central water feature that will activate the space in summer.

  • 6

    The transformed Olympic Plaza will feature a new pavilion with a food and beverage offering and public washrooms on its eastern edge, and a new green space on the northern edge. The plaza will be bordered on the west by the first phase of the Werklund Centre Transformation, the WCT Expansion, a new 170,000 square foot theatre facility currently under construction, which houses the Osten-Victor Playhouse, and the 200-seat studio theatre.

Frequently Asked Questions7

  • Construction on the Olympic Plaza Transformation started in May 2026, and is anticipated to be completed in 2028 alongside the first phase of the Werklund Centre Transformation – the 170,000 sq. ft. Expansion. Design is progressing on the second phase of WCT – the modernization of the existing Werklund Centre facility – and construction will begin once the remaining required funding is secured.