Vision Statement

Based on engagement and site analysis work in Phase 1, a vision for Stephen Avenue was developed:

The Avenue is Calgary’s main connector to arts, culture and commerce and offers a stage for experimentation and innovation. A 21st century street, the Avenue links Calgary’s walkable urban core to its neighbourhoods through a superlative public realm. Active day and night, and throughout the year, the Avenue is a catalyst for a resilient economy, enabling adaptation towards Calgary’s future. As Calgary’s premier local and tourist destination, the Avenue fosters social interaction, civic gathering, and community pride.

Character Areas

The vision broke Stephen Avenue into three-character areas that build upon existing assets. Each area provides distinct opportunities and potential to support and amplify public life downtown. While one street, each of the areas requires its own programming and amenities that responds to existing and desired character.

The Village:

The Village is an emerging complete neighbourhood with human-scaled, mixed-use developments. The Village reimagines the community of Downtown West as a more sought-after neighbourhood for everyone, from creative youths to empty-nesters, with amenities and a well-connected public space network, providing a platform for everyday life to unfold. The Avenue connects it all and invites every mobility mode to move safely and comfortably throughout the neighbourhood.

The Core:

The Core is the link between the Commons and the Village. Here, thriving businesses bustling with office workers meet high quality small-scale and large-scale retail. The street is a public space for everyday use and events. It’s a platform for people-watching and socializing. This is where the +15 network and the Avenue can be improved through coordinated efforts to blend them together.

The Commons:

The Commons is the epicentre of gathering, idea exchange, arts, culture and civic pride. A vibrant district that draws local and global talent and contributes to the growth of the most innovative sectors of the economy. With a mix of cultural institutions, historical buildings, local retail and high-quality public spaces for both everyday life and large gatherings, the Commons provides a platform for Calgarians and tourists alike to enjoy the best of Calgary in a concentrated area

Street Types

The Avenue was further broken down into two distinct street types: a shared street zone, and a multi-modal street zone. Although the street type differs between the two areas, the designs solutions aim to unify the street creating one continuous streetscape character from Macleod Trail SE to 11th Street SW.

Concept Design Alternatives

Phase 1 explored three concept design alternatives for each of the two street types. The options were presented to the public and interested parties to solicit feedback.

Shared Street:

#1: Symmetrical Shared Street

#2: Symmetrical shared with central commercial zone

#3: Asymmetrical shared street

#1: Symmetrical grade separated bike lanes

Visit the following links to learn more about the Phase 1A work.

Fall 2018 - What We Heard Report (Phase 1A)

Winter 2019 - What We Heard Report (Phase 1A)

Winter 2021 - Final Engagement Report (Phase 1A)

A tree canopy can provide a wide range of benefits: beautification, shade, reductions in urban heat and stormwater runoff, and will establish a continuous, vertical element and visual identity for the street.

Phase 1 engagement highlighted the desire to see more greenery on the Avenue and showed a preference for robust, continuous tree plantings.

Note: Utility relocation studies are ongoing to understand the feasibility of achieving healthy trees in the shared street section. While adding cost to the project, relocating utilities may be required to ensure trees along the Avenue can be planted with conditions that promote their health and longevity.

Street lighting can strike a balance between ambiance and functionality, setting the stage for a safe, all-season experience. At select locations lighting can be used to highlight special moments like historic building details and special programming zones. At intersections, light fixtures can serve as identity markers.

Phase 1 engagement revealed that people have varied perceptions of safety and a desire for better lighting along the Avenue.

Artistic, grand gateways that bookend the corridor can mark the arrival points to Stephen Avenue. Minor gateway elements at intersections can help draw people to the Avenue from the surrounding area.

Phase 1 engagement showed the desire to see the Avenue as Calgary’s main connector to arts, culture & commerce.

Continuous, high-quality paving can define the street from edge to edge and create a continuous experience on Stephen Avenue between Olympic Plaza and 4th St SW. Paving will continue to 11 Street SW along the sidewalk to unify the Avenue from end to end.

A key takeaway from phase 1 engagement was a desire to transform the Avenue into a high-quality complete street with a continuous street treatment and a focus on active mobility.

Planning for programming and activation that is responsive to the location and street context while allowing for change over time is vital. Across Stephen Avenue, quality street furniture, from public benches to bike racks, can create a base experience, while other amenities that support special moments throughout can add additional opportunities for all Calgarians and visitors to spend time across seasons.

The community voiced a desire to see a future Avenue that is inclusive and diverse, with activities for all ages and abilities.

A less cluttered, simplified visual environment with a few key identifiers will make navigation and wayfinding on Stephen Avenue easier and the new visual markers to the Plus 15 easier to spot. In addition, new direct connections will enhance connections between Stephen Avenue and the Plus 15 network and vice versa.

“Connecting the Avenue” was noted a top priority for the longer-term redesign, with an emphasis on better links between the Plus 15 Network, the Avenue and other key Downtown destinations.

Reconfiguring the street in pursuit of an exemplary 21st century streetscape comes with a wide range of benefits, as well as trade-offs. The draft representative concept designs are made of different zones called functional layers. These layers outline how the street is split up to accommodate different functions and balance the needs of all users. These layers include:

• Through Zones
• Active Mobility Modes
• Program Zones
• Furniture Zones
• Emergency Access
• Private Vehicles

The through zone functions as a pedestrian thoroughfare for all, making it easier for more people to move along and across the street— from commuters to those strolling by the different shops and spaces on the Avenue. It is also a place to encounter the many invitations to stay and spend time.

This zone is a dedicated and universally accessible path for pedestrians, unobstructed by any furnishing or barriers across the entire length of the Avenue.

The dimension of the through zone varies depending on the street type and condition to ensure that pedestrian volumes are accommodated in a comfortable and safe manner.

This zone provides dedicated travel space for active mobility modes, which includes cycling, e-bikes, kick-scooters, skateboards, and other electric micro-mobility devices.

This condition occurs between 2nd Street SW and 1st Street SE.

Multiple program zones within the right-of-way provide opportunities for a diverse range of activities. Condition A provides a large central program zone with additional flexible program zones on both sides to support the active ground floor uses.

Clear 3.5m through zones for pedestrian movement is planned for both sides of the program zone. This doubles as the emergency access zone. An additional 2.5m of outrigger space for fire trucks is provided in the adjacent flexible program zone. Furnishings in these zones cannot be fixed and must be easily movable by 1-2 people in the event of an emergency.

Bikes and other active mobility modes would dismount within the through zone during busy peak hours.

Private vehicles are not permitted.

This condition occurs between 4th Street SW and 2nd Street SW, as well as 1 ST SE and Macleod Trail SE.

Condition A’ concentrates large program zones on both sides of the Avenue to activate the space along the buildings and to accommodate existing structures (such as Galleria Trees). A generous through zone for pedestrian movement is proposed in the centre of the Avenue to ensure people can still move safely and comfortably. The through zone doubles as the emergency access zone.

Bikes and other active mobility modes would dismount within the through zone during busy peak hours.

Private vehicles are not permitted.

This condition occurs between 4th Street SW and 11th Street SW.

Dedicated travel space for cyclists and other active mobility modes is provided through protected lanes. A widened through zone provides ample space for pedestrian movement.

Conflicts between pedestrians and active mobility users are mitigated by using the furniture zone to separate theses two zones.

The generous furniture zone on both sides of the street supports neighbourhood-scale public life. Locations for smaller program zones within the fixed furnishing zone will be identified.

Dedicated travel lanes for two-way vehicular traffic are narrowed to encourage slower speeds and create a safer street. Maintaining the existing two-way traffic configuration encourages calmer, slower street traffic.

Parking in the multi-modal street will be removed to reallocate space for expanded furniture zones and trees. Designated parking zones will be provided at cross-street intersections. Improved wayfinding to existing parking facilities (such as lots and garages) will also be explored along the multi-modal portion of the Avenue.

Emergency access is accommodated through the vehicular lanes.