As the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC), alongside the Calgary Parking Authority and Platform Calgary, planned a new parkade in the growing East Village, shifting transportation habits began to reshape the conversation. With the neighbourhood embracing expanded transit and an increasing cycling culture, a typical parkade felt obsolete, opening the door for a more thoughtful approach.
CMLC engaged Kasian with 5468796 Architecture to design a sustainable, mixed-use building that could serve immediate needs beyond parking while adapting to Calgary’s changing relationship with cars. The result is a 250,000-square-foot facility with an innovation centre on the first two floors and a future-proofed design for potential conversion to residential or office use.
The parkade’s urban location adjacent to the CPKC rail tracks was carefully sited to avoid casting shadows on the park next to the Central Library. The design also addresses major infrastructure constraints, including an LRT tunnel and a bisecting water main. The adaptable structure was built to accommodate 500 vehicles and allows for future conversion into a multi-functional space.
The project reimagines the role of the parkade in how we live, work, and play. Platform – a 50,000-square-foot innovation centre – welcomes start-ups and changemakers, proving the building is more than a place to park. Public amenities like a basketball court invite community use and activate the neighbourhood along 9th Avenue.
To support convertibility, each floor was engineered for heavier loads, and instead of traditional ramps, a gently sloped slab allows floors to be re-leveled as uses evolve. The ramp winds around a central void that floods the structure with daylight, illuminating every floor. Ceilings 1.5 times taller than typical parkades add openness and flexibility.
Since opening, the 9th Avenue Parkade and Platform Innovation Centre has become a catalyst for conversations about the future of transportation, urban land use, and commuter habits.
Read more about the 9th Avenue Parkade in Canadian Architect & gb&d magazines.
All photos are taken by James Brittain.
EXPLORE MORE
We’d love to get to know you
Get in touch
"*" indicates required fields
Get in touch
Share