HOK and Dialog partnered to design a new arena for the National Hockey League’s Calgary Flames; construction on the Scotia Place complex started a few days ago in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Scotia Place replaced a 2015 plan called CalgaryNEXT and affected Scotiabank Saddledome and McMahon Stadium for Calgary’s professional hockey and Canadian football teams. That proposal included two buildings for two hockey clubs, the National Hockey League’s Calgary Flames and the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League.
The design draws inspiration from a “fire and ice” theme, incorporating the city’s heritage and Indigenous peoples. The final result is a sleek, modern building that will be an important addition to Calgary’s entertainment industry.
“Today is a big day for Calgary. After a decade of talking, Calgary is breaking ground on a new events center… a project that promises to become a cornerstone of our sports and entertainment district,” said city councilor Sonya Sharp.
In addition to the arena, the place contains gathering places such as bars, restaurants, and retail shops. “This is a place where dreams will be realized, where champions will be made, and our community will come together to celebrate, to be entertained, and to enjoy.”
According to Columnist Eric Francis, the arena’s capacity will be 18,400, and it is scheduled to be ready for the 2027-28 season.
“I think the best buildings tell stories and narratives. It was important for us to come up with a story that resonated with this place,” Bill Johnson, design principal for the Denver studio and for HOK’s Sports + Recreation + Entertainment practices, added, “We came up with a fairly direct idea that this is a meeting place, and this was the birthplace of this community, and people gathered around the fire, and what better building type than a building that was designed to bring people together?”
