CREWS WORK ON THE FUTURE
Various commercial, residential projects keep construction moving during pandemic
The Calgary Construction Association has been doing a great job ensuring crews have kept working during the COVID-19 pandemic, and they continue to change the face of the city.
The biggest project, and hardest to understand as you drive by, is the massive interchange work well underway at the junction of the Trans-canada Highway and Stoney Trail N.W.
It looks like total confusion to those that just get glimpses of big yellow machines and partially built bridge abutments. But when completed — providing the directional signs give easily understood information — no doubt it will become a work of construction art and design.
In the same area there is good progress at Trinity Hills, where we can look forward to a 30,000-square-foot Goodlife Fitness, a 27,000-square-foot MEC and a Save-on-foods grocery store. And across the highway, Melcor’s Greenwich Village master-planned mixeduse community is beginning to take shape with residential properties; and those living in the northwest look forward to seeing the new Calgary Farmers’ Market rise out of the ground.
It always seems such a long time between original plans and opening of new developments; I remember getting excited about University District while wandering through an excellent virtual reality wall produced by Riddell Kurczaba Architecture 3-D Visualization.
So, taking the time to drive through the development from Shaganappi Trail, I was impressed to see the construction progress that is transforming the former University of Calgary lands. And surprised to find that crews are already working on the 14th floor of the 15-storey Alt Hotel.
The 156-room hotel by Group Germain is at the first intersection across from the development’s Discovery Centre, reopened this week to offer show suites of the district’s residential properties. Managed by West Campus Development Trust
CEO James Robertson, he and his marketing team also use the centre to speak to potential retailers about the many benefits of opening stores in the prestigious development.
Robertson says reception has been very encouraging and we will see the opening of several businesses in late summer. The first group will be those across the street from Alt Hotel on the ground floor of the 288-suite Rhapsody residential complex by Gracorp Properties. They include a 38,000-square-foot Save-onfoods grocery store, Analog Coffee, Market Wines, Freshii, Pet Planet and Scotia Bank.
Adjoining the hotel is the five-storey August residential block by Aviurban, where its
120 condominiums will sit above YYC Cycle Spin Studio, Five
Guys Burgers and OEB Breakfast.
Farther to the east along University Avenue, a new fivescreen, VIP Cineplex Theatre with a fully-licensed lounge will be above ground in its construction process next month.
In the same block, a new Staples store will be welcomed by residents of the northwest who were frustrated when the Market Mall location closed.
It’s been full steam ahead for University District, where there will be more than 1,000 residences occupied by year end. Current multi-family residences under construction are Esquire by Truman, Argyle by Aviurban, and Capella by Brookfield. The Cambridge assisted-living home development by Brenda Strafford Foundation on the corner of Shaganappi Trail will welcome its first guests in September.
Meanwhile, people from the currently occupied dwellings as well as from the neighbouring Varsity district are enjoying use of the two artificial turf, fencedin dog parks.
Notes:
A health-care educator for
more than 25 years, Brian Lee, CEO of Custom Learning, is boosting the morale of front-line caregivers with a new inspire and support free app. Caregiver Heroes is a newly developed educational tool in support of worker issues related to the virus, a series of videos featuring some 50 world-class speakers and educators who have volunteered to give extraordinary gems of wisdom and hope.
One of the many problems
caused by COVID-19 is confusion for organizations about whether to cancel crucial fundraising events. Already they stretch way into the fall. Right now, the annual Winter Start five-mile run — starting in downtown Banff to partway up Tunnel Mountain and back — is still a go for November as the major fundraiser for Banff Alpine Racers. Co-hosted by the Tech Shop and the ski club that has developed many world-class athletes, it is expected 1,400 racers will participate again.