The City of Calgary, in collaboration with Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation (CSEC), has revealed the design for a new Calgary Flames Arena, Scotia Place.
Credit: City of Calgary
Scheduled to open in the fall of 2027, Scotia Place will serve as a prominent landmark within Calgary’s Culture + Entertainment District.
The event center spans a 10-acre city block and will cater to approximately 8,000 residents in the new downtown neighbourhood.
Per the news release, the design process for Scotia Place included consultations with an Indigenous Advisory Group, ensuring the inclusion of cultural elements significant to the Treaty 7 Nations, the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3, and the Urban Indigenous community. This input led to design features that honour Indigenous connections to the land, such as representations of the tipi, Métis Trapper’s Tent, and Alberta’s natural landscape.
The design features a central structure adorned with a flame motif symbolizing a home fire. This design is meant to evoke a sense of warmth and community, especially when illuminated at night. The building’s lower sections resemble glacial forms, complementing the flame motif.
Credit: City of Calgary
Per the website, outdoor spaces around Scotia Place are designed for year-round community engagement, with plazas on all four sides of the building. The south plaza features a digital screen and a central “Home Fire” for outdoor concerts and events. The north and west plazas host public restaurants, the Calgary Flames flagship store, and a food hall integrated with the historic Stephenson & Co Grocers building.
Credit: City of Calgary
Accessibility will also be a major focus of Scotia Place’s design. The event surface will be 35 feet below ground, allowing direct access from the street to the primary concourse without the need for stairs. The ground-level concourse will feature accessible washrooms, restaurants, and entertainment spaces.
The project emphasizes sustainability, aiming for LEED Silver certification and targeting net-zero emissions by 2050. The facility is designed to increase energy efficiency by 40% and water efficiency by 35% above national building codes, with the capability to transition to full electrification.
The development permit application for Scotia Place was submitted on July 19, 2024, and is expected to be reviewed by the Calgary Planning Commission by the end of the year.
Construction of Scotia Place is set to begin this week. Additional information about Scotia Place, including design renderings and a video, is available on Calgary.ca/ScotiaPlace.