A new +15 pedestrian bridge design was approved this week by the City of Calgary's Planning Commission and it means the Centre City will be able to show off more of its modern architectural curves.
The Commission unanimously approved the +15 proposal spanning the Homburg-Harris Centre and Gulf Canada Square in Calgary's core (2nd Street and 9th Avenue S.W.).
In coming up with a design, the challenge for local architectural firm, Abugov Kaspar, was to create something that would work around some unique constraints to that area.
The City of Calgary's Senior Architect and Urban Designer, David Down, explains the shapely design came about out of necessity, "The property directly beneath the bridge, owned by CPR, contains two major underground utility easements; as well, the City of Calgary required an unencumbered underground easement for a future C-train right of way. The existing circular parking ramp, as well as precluding a more direct route between the buildings, has always provided a less than satisfactory visual terminus to 2nd Street."
Down adds Abugov Kaspar's solution was to design an elegantly curved bridge hung asymmetrically with cables from one mast. This, he says, masks the view of the parking ramp while at the same time providing "an attractive punctuation point."
Artistic and highly functional lighting will also come into play with this design. Down describes the curved form of the bridge as having a "faceted screen of canted star-fire glass panels which will be softly washed by programmable LED lights providing evening animation."
We'll make sure to keep you updated on this exciting +15 project as details unfold...
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