Article by Calgary Municipal Land Corporation

A ground-breaking, multi-use building in the heart of East Village reaches an important milestone this week. Work crews are approaching the ‘topping off’ of the 9th Avenue SE Parkade and Platform Innovation Centre as they begin the concrete pour on its upper level. The completion of this seventh and final storey will mark the end of the substantial structural work on the building.On track for a spring 2021 completion, this project includes an open-air parkade with 500+ parking stalls, public bike parking and an outdoor sport court. The parkade is integrated with the 50,000 square foot Platform Innovation Centre, a key piece of public infrastructure designed to accelerate Calgary’s innovation economy by concentrating tech entrepreneurs, high impact programs, partners and investment under one roof.Located on 9th Avenue at 3rd Street SE, the $80-million structure makes much better use of a significant East Village land parcel previously underutilized as surface-level parking. CMLC, serving as development manager, worked with partners Calgary Parking Authority (CPA), Platform Calgary and architects Kasian and 5468796 Architecture to bring the building to life.The building has a new look since the early design renderings were released due to a change in the exterior screen material. The project team made the adjustment to address anticipated challenges with the constructability of the original screen. The new design and material offer a local fabrication solution and improved long-term maintenance efficiencies while maintaining the original striking design aesthetic.The parkade itself offers design innovations that allow for future conversion into office or residential uses. Glen Furtado, CPA general manager, says, “We really wanted to reimagine how a parking structure could be designed, to integrate into its surroundings and be a dynamic part of an urban mosaic. 9th Avenue Parkade provided just that; it is designed, developed and built to address the evolving transportation needs of the community.”Kate Thompson, CMLC president & CEO, adds, “This building is unique for Calgary but is exactly in line with the forward-looking approach that’s guided development in East Village from the outset. Its flexibility means it’s responsive to the evolving needs of the neighbourhood and is built with an approach that is mindful of our communities’ needs—present and future.”Platform Calgary president & CEO Terry Rock adds, “We are thrilled to see this building taking shape in the most exciting part of our city. Our partnership with CMLC and CPA to bring this space to life will create new, fast-growing tech startups, support a highly skilled and inclusive workforce, and transform industries. This will truly be Calgary’s home for innovators.”Now that the structure is whole, over the coming months crews will work to complete the mechanical and electrical systems, exterior screen and interior finishes.To learn more about the project, glimpse behind the scenes of construction and commentary from project representatives, click here for a video.For the full article, click HERE.