05/28/2026
Alongside our project partners at Werklund Centre and funding partners at City of Calgary – Your Local Government, the YourAlberta (Government of Alberta) and Dave Werklund & Family, we are proud to celebrate the official groundbreaking of the Olympic Plaza Transformation (OPT) — a major milestone on the revitalization of one of Calgary’s most well-known public spaces.
While construction has been underway on the Werklund Centre Transformation (WCT) Expansion on the west end of the site since late 2024, today’s announcement officially marks the start of construction on the plaza itself.
The revitalized Olympic Plaza will transform the 35-year-old urban gathering place into a modern, innovative, flexible and active public space designed to better serve the evolving needs of Calgary’s downtown core. The revitalized plaza will include a new pavilion with food and beverage offerings and public washrooms along the eastern edge, expanded green space to the north, and flexible infrastructure designed to support everyday use, seasonal programming, markets, festivals, events of up to 5,000 people, and a winter skating rink.
Thoughtful design elements will honour the plaza’s Olympic legacy, including the integration of one of Calgary's 1988 Olympic cauldrons and a striking 12-metre central water feature inspired by the 'sunflake' the official emblem of the 1988 Olympic Games.
Together, the Olympic Plaza Transformation and Werklund Centre Transformation represent a generational investment in Calgary’s artistic, cultural and civic future, and a vital component of The City of Calgary's downtown revitalization strategy — driving vibrancy, economic activity and year-round cultural experiences in the heart of Calgary.
The design of this transformative project is led by GH3, CCxA, and Belleville Placemaking. To ensure construction is effectively coordinated, EllisDon Corporation and Colliers Project Leaders will serve as Construction Manager and Project Managers for both WCT expansion project and for the OPT.
The Olympic Plaza Transformation is under construction and anticipated to be completed in 2028.
Read more: https://bit.ly/4dQZZJE
Photo (L-R): 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. Photo by Mark Shannon
