Award of Merit

Calgary Zoo North Gate
Calgary, Alberta

Category: Recent Work
Architect: Cohos Evamy Integratedesign
Owner/Client: Calgary Zoological Society
Structural Engineer: Read Jones Christoffersen
Mechanical Engineer: Wiebe Forest Engineering
Electrical Engineer: Stebnicki, Robertson & Associates
Contractor: Stuart Olson

The Project

The Calgary Zoo is one of Calgary's premier public and tourist facilities and a major urban destination. The Calgary Zoo's North Gate is its largest and most popular entryway. The Zoo lacked a "front door" at its primary entrance. In its broadest urban gesture, the new North Gate Pavilion relocates and creates the Zoo's "front door" to the north end of a tunnel extending the Zoo experience to encompass a visitor's first point of contact. The redevelopment of the public entry plaza and integral landscaping were critical to the creation of a sense of place.

During the day, the North Gate is outward looking, addressing all of those who have come to experience the Zoo. At night, the North Gate acts as "beacon" on the landscape, further extending and announcing the Zoo's place in the City.