Faculty of Environmental Design (EVDS) brings to campus award winning architects in the exploration of a new vision for Calgary’s cultural district.
The makeCalgary initiative is an EVDS community-based research platform that engages the disciplines of architecture, planning and environmental design. It gathers together the energy of its students, the expertise of researchers, and the real-world perspective of industry and community partners, to explore the potential of making the city we all imagine.
Each academic year, makeCalgary identifies a specific thematic research challenge for collaborative exploration. This year, with the city designated the 2012 Cultural Capital of Canada, we asks the question “What is the future of CULTURE SPACE in Calgary?”
EVDS students are participating in a four-day intensive design workshop Oct. 9-12, exploring the potential relevance of traditional cultural institutions such as libraries, concert halls, and museums in a world saturated with user-generated content and low-cost social media distribution channels.
The principals of two award winning firms, Patkau Architects (Vancouver) and Snøhetta Architecture (New York, Oslo) will be on campus working with EVDS to explore new visions for the city’s cultural district.
“This is a remarkable opportunity for our students to work side-by-side with world leaders in architecture and urban design; and then present their ideas to the community in a public forum,” says EVDS Dean Nancy Pollock-Ellwand.
The design workshop culminates with a public event, featuring an exhibition of the design work, presentations by distinguished guest architects, and a public forum on the future of culture space in the city.
The makeCalgary: CULTURE SPACE gala event will be held Oct. 12 from 6:30-9 p.m. at the Metropolitan Centre (333 4 Ave. SW).
EVDS was founded on an overarching commitment to the integration of design, ecology and culture. The theme of CULTURE SPACE is being investigated throughout the year, at a variety of levels, by different collaborative research groups comprised of faculty, students with industry and community partners.
Community enhancement projects, such as the Day of Service, research studios and this public gala are just the start – of making the city we all imagine.
This event was made possible by EVDS’ community supporters; The City of Calgary, Dialog, AECOM and Read Jones Christoffersen.
Article by Jessica Wallace. Image courtesy of Riley Brandt.