Adjacent to Calgary's financial district to the north is the Eau Claire Neighbourhood, home to approximately 1,800 residents. Organized around the urban retail and entertainment destination known as the Eau Claire Market, the area is undergoing a major revitalization and modernization plan that will eventually lead to the demolition and further redevelopment of the existing mall. Built in 1993, at a time where Calgary's downtown population was insufficient to draw large crowds of shoppers towards the retail complex, the market was never able to develop a viable clientele, which resulted in the closure of several stores by the early 2000s. 

Aerial View of the Eau Claire Market Redevelopment, image via Perkins + Will

In 2004 and 2007 respectively, Harvard Developments bought the mall and surrounding 2.95-hectare site for a total of $41.5 million. After several years of stagnation, the plan for a mixed-use urban village to replace the mall is now one step closer to realization after Calgary's city council's unanimous first reading of the developer’s rezoning application last December. 

Looking towards the Bow River from the Eau Claire Market Redevelopment, image via Perkins + Will

Designed by Perkins + Will, the Eau Claire Market Redevelopment would consist of a 195,000 square metre mixed-used area including 1,000 new residential units and 130,000 square metres of office and retail spaces as well as a 250-room hotel. The plan translates into a series of five diamond-shaped towers. To the south, three of the buildings will rise on top of a large podium accommodating 20,300 square metres of retail as well as residential and hotel amenities. While the tallest 135-metre tower of this section of the development will accommodate the office component of the project, the remaining two buildings — 100 and 80 metres high — will be dedicated to residential uses. The 16,000 square metre hotel will be situated inside the westerly tower.

Street level activity at he Eau Claire Market Redevelopment, image via Perkins + Will

To the north, a second podium will house an additional 13,000 square-metre commercial portion and support two fully-residential buildings, rising 50 and 45 metres above ground. A mix of 1 & 2 bedroom rental, condominium, townhouse and live/work dwellings are planned for the Eau Claire Market and surrounding parking lots. The inclination of the blue glass-clad edifices will ensure the gradual transition between the skyscrapers of the city's core and the Bow River valley.

The pedestrian street at the Eau Claire Market Redevelopment, image via Perkins + Will

The former First Avenue will be reopened and run in between the two podiums in the form of a pedestrian street boarded on both sides by stores, entertainment and cultural facilities. It will eventually lead towards a public square, partially lined by retail spaces equipped with a series of retractable glass panels that can be lifted during the warm months of the year. To the west, the plaza will open on to the already established Eau Claire community, further connecting the new development with the rest of the city.

Interior space at the Eau Claire Market Redevelopment, image via Perkins + Will

The question of sky bridges connecting the new Eau Claire Market with the surrounding office buildings remains an issue that need to be addressed by the developer and design team. Furthermore, the plan to move a 27 metre tall heritage smokestack from its current location at the corner of 2nd Avenue and Barclay Parade to a more visible spot further north on the site has raised concerns within both the community and city council, as it would set a precedent. While the developer hopes to start construction by the end of 2016, the city has the option to repurchase the land, at market value, if it’s not redeveloped by the end of 2018.

New plaza at the Eau Claire Market Redevelopment, image via Perkins + Will

Additional information and renderings can be found in our Database file for the U.S. Bank Stadium, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum thread, or leave a comment in the space provided at the bottom of this page.