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CUTTING-EDGE APPROACHES TO CITY-BUILDING In just 15 years, Calgary Municipal Land Corporation has completely transformed Calgary’s east end — and there’s more on the horizon.
A TEAM OF INNOVATORS AND CHANGEMAKERS
Transforming an area that was once considered by many to be stagnant into a lively part of Calgary requires a powerhouse team dedicated to creativity and change. At the helm of the CMLC team is Kate Thompson, the corporation’s president and CEO. Thompson spent years working as an architect before joining CMLC in 2013. Now, she oversees more than $1 billion in development projects and steers a team that has earned a reputation for thinking outside the box and making big things happen.
“Our team is very ambitious and goaloriented. Given the opportunity to at eT ho reach beyond the mp son norm, we all take it — and that means we sometimes take risks and try different things,” says Thompson. “Our goal is to create exceptional spaces and experiences for people in new and exciting ways.” CMLC sees opportunities to innovate in all aspects of its work. That bold thinking is the reason Calgary is home to a 1-kilometre cross-country ski loop in the heart of downtown, a natural oasis in the middle of the Bow River called St. Patrick’s Island, and a combined parkade and innovation centre that can evolve into a mixed-use development as the need for parking subsides. K
Founded in 2007, Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) has more than delivered on its mission to bring East Village back to life. The change started with the Rivers District Community Revitalization Plan — a public infrastructure program for a 504-acre stretch of Calgary’s east end that leveraged a unique funding model. Add in CMLC’s innovative approach to city-building, and the result is a vibrant and sought-after community.
CONTINUED INNOVATION FOR THE CITY’S FUTURE
CMLC is 15 years into its work and “the results speak for themselves,” says Thompson. “The area feels different. The goal was to make East Village feel like a
special and unique spot in our city.” To date, more than $400 million has been invested in infrastructure in East Village, including much-loved spots like the Simmons Building, Jack & Jean Leslie RiverWalk and the award-winning Central Library. This work has attracted over $3 billion in private investment to the community, and CMLC’s work is not done yet. Currently, CMLC is energizing The Culture and Entertainment District in east Victoria Park, where there is already $600 million in innovative city-building projects underway. The BMO Centre expansion, the Victoria Park/Stampede Station rebuild, the 17th Avenue extension and the Stampede Trail project will only continue to enhance how liveable Calgary is and how enticing it is for visitors. “These projects will shift how people use our city. The 17th Avenue extension across Macleod Trail will change people's perception of that area by expanding the footprint of downtown,” says Thompson. CMLC’s reimagination of existing spaces is what helps to make the city great. The BMO Centre expansion project, scheduled for completion by the summer of 2024, will double the centre’s capacity for hosting and put Calgary on the map as an international convention destination. CMLC’s leadership is also stewarding the Arts Commons Transformation project, currently in the design phase, which will see a major expansion with the construction of a new building and a 1,000-seat theatre. To learn more, visit calgarymlc.ca.
