Kate Thompson is leading the team that is responsible for the development of the entire East Village project, helping to turn this inner-city spot with lots of potential into a vibrant new neighbourhood.
Lots of people say they build bridges in their work, but Kate Thompson actually does.
Thompson's job is to oversee what the City of Calgary hopes will one day be one of the most vibrant and diverse neighbourhoods in the city; she's leading the team that's rebuilding the East Village from the ground up.
Thompson is a study in contrasts. While chatting about the work she does overseeing the ultra-urban East Village project's budget, timing and vision, it comes out she owns land and cows.
"It's a little surprise to most people, thinking the architect wearing all black wouldn't have any experience branding!" says Thompson.
But she does, not to mention lots of practice helping to restring fences. Thompson and her family live a downtown lifestyle during the week but spend most summer weekends in a cabin they built using old power poles. Yes, she not only oversees major urban projects, including the Simmons Building redevelopment and the new Central Library, Thompson designed and helped build a log cabin with her own hands.
Click here to read the rest of the article by Erin Lawrence in Avenue Magazine.
Photograph by Jared Sych