Built in 2022, the 9th Avenue Parkade in downtown Calgary received the highest honour in Canada for a structure designed by a Canadian architect. Designed by 5468796 Architecture and Kasian Architecture, Interior Design and Planning, the building is the recipient of a Governor General\u2019s Medal in Architecture. It\u2019s the first time a parking garage has received the award.<\/p>\n
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The pedestrian plaza on 9th Avenue offers unique and fun places for Calgarians to explore the city and it also allows everyone to see how improved Calgary continues to get when it comes to designing buildings, or in this case, garages. PHOTO: JAMES BRITTAIN <\/p>\n
Sasa Radulovic, the principal of the architectural project, said the parkade was designed for the future and its use not limited to one type of space. Rather it\u2019s a flexible facility that can change depending on city demands or needs.<\/p>\n
\u201cInvestment into infrastructural projects like this should not be short-sighted,\u201d Radulovic said. \u201cIt should not be for 10, 20, 30, or 50 years, but it should be for 50, 100 and more.\u201d<\/p>\n
Radulovic also said the purpose of this project was not just the aesthetics of the structure, but to reconsider the ways buildings can be built and used as compared to those the past.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe reason we applied for this award was not based on beauty or creativity when it comes to composition or materials, but more about the smartness of the approach and the way we think buildings should be built.\u201d <\/p>\n
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The interior design of this parkade stands out due to the multitude of areas that Calgarians can visit. It\u2019s accessible to everyone and there are also different places that you can explore and go to as well to get the best experience overall. PHOTO: JAMES BRITTAIN<\/p>\n
After receiving an architectural award for the first time, Radulovic hopes that recognition changes the perspective that parking garages are narrowly defined and should only be utilized for a single purpose.<\/p>\n
\u201cClients like Calgary Municipal Land Corporation are a tremendous asset to Calgary as somebody who procures design, understands how to deliver it and demands that of their architect. We should not dismiss a parkade as a project that\u2019s not worthy of full investment of our intellect and rigour,\u201d Radulovic said.<\/p>\n
Radulovic also said that when the parkade was built, he was told it could be the last parking project of its kind because the city might require fewer parking spaces in the future.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the time we were building this, Calgary Parking Authority said this is the last parkade we\u2019re ever going to build because the amount of cars on the road is only going to decrease with car share and self-driving.\u201d <\/p>\n
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This wide shot sees how the parking garage looks from the outside and even with different spaces and places to see around it, the most important part continues to be the garage and the purpose of what it offers. PHOTO: JAMES BRITTAIN<\/p>\n
He praises the growth of Calgary\u2019s infrastructure and hopes that this building continues to be a good example of Calgary\u2019s growth in high-quality architecture. With Calgary gaining national recognition for its architectural design, Radulovic expects the city to receive more awards for future projects.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think Calgary is ahead of most of the prairie cities when it comes to design. I would suggest that it\u2019s on par with projects of the highest calibre with Toronto and Vancouver, so I think Calgary is in for a good run.\u201d<\/p>\n
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