'Creating a legacy': Contest launched for redesign of block in downtown Banff
Parks Canada is launching an international architectural design competition for the redevelopment of a block of buildings in the heart of Banff.
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The competition, which will be overseen by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, comes after a year of consultation and nearly 25 years of work acquiring land in the 200 block of Banff Avenue.
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The first phase will have interested firms and teams submit proposals 'detailing their past project experiences, qualifications, and capabilities to undertake a multidisciplinary project of this scope and scale,' according to Parks Canada. Of those submitting, only six will be invited to submit full conceptual designs.
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An independent jury of designers and architects will scrutinize the proposals. A final public review will occur on all designs, before a decision is finalized by spring 2026.
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The international scope of the competition has been met with a semblance of backlash on social media. In the announcement post on the Banff National Park official Facebook page, commenters questioned why the competition wasn't exclusively offering the opportunity to Canadian teams. Parks Canada said in a June 27 statement that the cross-border breadth 'is intended to attract a range of high-quality, creative proposals.'
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Despite the competition's clear yearlong timeline, there is no estimate offered on when any new development might cut the ribbon. Other projects designed via competition in Alberta include the Art Gallery of Alberta in Edmonton, and the National Music Centre in Calgary.
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The federal government identified the need to improve reception, information, and orientation for visitors to Banff in the late 1990s. The central downtown location was selected as one 'where 80 per cent of visitors stop during their trip,' according to the project's overview. Acquiring the 10 contiguous lots of land has taken more than two decades, culminating last year with the launch of a federally funded consultation phase to the tune of $8 million.
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While the location in the heart of Banff had been dictated in 1982 based on perceived needs of the community at the time, the engagement phase aimed to speak directly to members of the public, including several Indigenous communities and other stakeholders, on what a contemporary vision for the development would require.
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The feedback will be used to guide the design competition. It listed opportunities the new development has to modernize facilities and open spaces, encourage connection with the national park, and address housing needs for eligible residents.
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