May 2025 Newsletter

This spring, concrete was poured for the initial structural columns, marking another milestone towards creating a vibrant hub of entertainment in Calgary's Culture + Entertainment District. These columns are an essential part of Scotia Place’s foundation, helping transfer and support the building’s weight, while ensuring stability and safety.

Concrete walls and rebar work will continue to take shape across the site into the summer. In the coming months, crews will begin to construct stairwells, elevator cores, access ramps, and install underground mechanical, electrical, and plumbing connections. By phasing the work this way, Scotia Place construction continues to meet its milestones.

Beyond hosting sporting events and concerts, Scotia Place will include a community arena, indoor and outdoor public plazas, a variety of dining options, and The Calgary Flames Team Store, helping to attract visitors from near and far to The C+E District.

With National AccessAbility Week kicking off on Sunday, May 25, now is the perfect time to explore how Scotia Place has been designed as an accessible and inclusive landmark for people to celebrate, connect and build community. Whether you’re visiting for a game, a concert, or making memories with family and friends—every visit is designed to be meaningful, inside and out.

Scotia Place warmly welcomes guests of all abilities and backgrounds. Designed with accessibility in mind, it aligns with the Rick Hansen Foundation's vision of creating inclusive spaces without barriers for people with diverse needs. This allows all guests to fully enjoy the amenities, activities, and public plazas.

When it's time to explore Scotia Place, you'll enjoy vibrant outdoor plazas on the north, south, and west sides of the building that offer wider sidewalks for open, accessible movement. Tactile directional indicators will help with navigation around the exterior spaces and to the main entrances. A large viewing screen will wrap around the southwest corner to the South Outdoor Plaza and will be the future home of the Red Zone for the Calgary Flames, creating an accessible gathering space for public viewing parties. Convenient drop-off and pick-up zones along 12 Avenue S.E. will make visits more accommodating, and designated relief areas for service animals will be located throughout the building. 

The event and ice surfaces are located 35 feet below ground, meaning you’ll go through all entrances at ground level – no stairs required. The restaurants, food hall, café, and the Calgary Flames Team Store will be effortlessly accessible with automatic doors and barrier-free entrances. Inside, your experience continues with elevators and escalators that provide easy access throughout. Accessible and companion seating will be available on all levels and at a range of price points, ensuring everyone can enjoy the experience comfortably.

Need a break from the excitement? There are quiet rooms available to help reduce anxiety and sensory overload. You'll also find a variety of washrooms, including multi-stall options, enhanced universal washrooms and a universal washroom with adult-size change table, and flex washroom enclosures.  

Both the community arena and the main ice are designed to support sledge hockey, inviting players and fans to take part and watch the game on one of downtown Calgary’s newest ice surfaces.

Scotia Place’s accessibility features play a key part in The District’s development, supporting the shared vision of creating a vibrant, walkable and wheelable community, making Scotia Place and its surroundings a landmark destination.

The Scotia Place project is working with LeuWebb (public art manager) and Heavy (public art construction manager) to commission four outdoor public art pieces for Scotia Place.

These include:

• Two located near the main entrances of the building (Northwest and Southwest entrance plazas).
• Two that are dedicated to celebrating Indigenous cultural connections to the land. These pieces will be found along the South Plaza and on the East parkade façade.

LeuWebb is asking interested artists to submit their qualifications by Friday, June 27, 2025.

Please visit LeuWebb.ca/ScotiaPlacePublicArt for more information and for details about the Calls to Artists and Request for Pre-Qualifications.

Excitement is building in The C+E! With construction progressing on Scotia Place, Stampede Trail and other district improvements, Calgarians can expect intermittent lane restrictions and road closures in the area through 2025.

Visit The C+E Access Map for real-time construction and access updates, and to plan your visit to Calgary's next great city neighbourhood.