5th Street SW Underpass Enhancement
A linear park connecting downtown and the Beltline
Bridges & Urban Infrastructure
Calgary’s 5th Street SW Underpass has been a key traffic corridor between the densely populated Beltline neighbourhood and the downtown since it was built in the 1970s. But now it is no longer just a piece of automobile infrastructure; it also serves as a linear park experience for commuters and residents – welcoming, safe, and dynamic.
Mobility modes have been separated in a way that is sensitive to the needs of all users, including motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians. Art is thoughtfully integrated throughout the design, enriching the experience through animation and storytelling and by reminding passers-by those of the city’s intimate relationship with water, past and present.
The result is a highly functional space that supports secure, comfortable multi-modal movement while providing a vibrant destination for the surrounding communities.
- Location
- Calgary, AB
- Client
- The City of Calgary
- DIALOG Services
- Collaborators
Jill Anholt Studio
Landscape Architecture
Structural Engineering
Engagement
Priorities for the redevelopment emerged through community engagement. Residents wanted the underpass to be a place that felt safe and enjoyable to pass through. They also wanted it to promote active forms of transportation such as walking and cycling. In short, they wanted to turn an ordinary space into an extraordinary experience.
The underpass enhancements support and encourage active transportation for more than 6,500 pedestrians and 1,200 cyclists each day.
The project creates open sightlines, integrated lighting, and clearly defined pedestrian and cycling routes.
Native trees and prairie grasses were integrated throughout the corridor to create a more park-like experience through the interplay of shadows, rustling of leaves, and seasonal change. These living elements also serve to introduce a variety of ecological services in a highly urban environment — sound buffering, stormwater management, mitigation of the urban heat island effect, and enhancing biodiversity.
A fossilized ripple stone supplied by the Rundle Rock “Kamenka” Quarry created molds for the precast concrete wall — a nod to the area’s rich geological history as a prehistoric inland sea.
With an upgraded, dedicated bike lane that connects to the cycling network, integrated art and new landscaping, the underpass now serves as an immersive, linear park experience, effortlessly unifying functionality, user experience, and beauty.
The Team
Prairie Design Awards“This project transforms an unpleasant and ubiquitous vehicular underpass into an engaging pedestrian-oriented urban space with a few deft moves. It is an animated and rich place for its communities”
