Fire and Ice: Crafting the exterior envelope of Scotia Place
Presentation Description:
In July 2024, The City of Calgary, Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation (CSEC) and the Government of Alberta broke ground on Scotia Place – an $800 million, over 1 million square foot facility, occupying a 10-acre city block in the heart of Calgary’s Culture + Entertainment District. Including an 18,400-seat event centre, 1,000-seat community rink, 500-stall structured parking garage, indoor and outdoor gathering places, and street-level retail and commercial venues, Scotia Place is poised to become Calgary’s premier destination for sports, live music, and shared experiences.
The hub of construction activity that the site is today is the culmination of a complex design process led by a partnership between DIALOG and HOK that had to meet the social and technical demands of a generational investment. Through the lens of the envelope design, this session will focus on how the exterior of Scotia Place tackles the challenge of creating an iconic landmark that reflects a rich indigenous and public consultation process, while being climate resilient, meeting a 75-year design lifespan, addressing flood risks, and achieving ambitious levels of climate resilience, accessibility, and sustainability.
Speakers
Joel Penner
Based in DIALOG’s Calgary studio, Joel is an accomplished architectural technologist with extensive experience in high-profile and complex projects across Western Canada and internationally. His portfolio spans a diverse range of projects, including high-rise commercial and mixed-use towers, small retail buildings, large mall renovations, and campus-style, multi-building developments. Joel’s expertise shines in fast-paced, complex projects where he collaborates with renowned architectural firms and liaises effectively with clients to streamline processes from inception to completion.
With advanced skills in Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Revit, Joel facilitates efficient coordination among consultants, enhancing communication and project understanding for his clients.
A LEED® Green Associate, Joel reflects his commitment to sustainable design practices. Before joining DIALOG, he contributed to iconic developments such as the London Bridge Tower (The Shard) and the Bay Adelaide Centre – East Tower and Podium. At DIALOG, his notable projects include Scotia Place, the University of Calgary’s MacKimmie Complex and Professional Faculties Redevelopment, the University of Calgary’s Veterinary Learning Commons, VIVO for Healthier Generations, Glenbow Museum renovation, and the Deerfoot City redevelopment.
Through a collaborative and client-focused approach, Joel ensures the success of each project while advancing DIALOG’s mission of design excellence and innovation. His dedication to quality, sustainability, and seamless project delivery makes him an invaluable asset to any team.
Neal Philipsen
Neal is a passionate designer with broad experience on post-secondary and cultural projects, from concept development through construction. Working at the intersection of culture, sustainability and innovation, Neal is interested in building significant architecture that positively contributes to better communities at all scales. His completed projects include the net-zero Mackimmie Complex at the University of Calgary, Scotia Place, Rundle College Elementary School, the Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre, the Chinook Centre Pedestrian Overpass, and an award-winning renovation of the historic Lougheed Building.
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