Walking Tour of the Bridges Fun and Informative

Saturday, Sep 24, 2016

CREW Calgary recently hosted a Walking Tour of the Bridges, led by the City of Calgary’s Sarah Quayle and Kathy Tsang. We are extremely thankful to all of our participants and our evening’s sponsor, Norton Rose Fulbright.

Owned and managed by the City of Calgary, The Bridges is an award-winning multi-residential and mixed use development project. It is considered one of the best examples of Transit-Oriented Development in Canada and Calgary’s first LEED certified condominium development. We were fortunate to have spectacular weather on our walking tour and participants learned about the project's key planning rationale and future plans for this development. The Bridges was conceived with a high value placed on architectural details and materials and a commitment to the creation of an interactive, transit-oriented space. With townhouse style apartments that open on to the street and the provision of 100 affordable housing units, there is a welcoming, inclusive feel to this development.

While on our tour the participants learned that this development is one-third green space, with over 1,000 trees lining the streets throughout the entire location. This dedication to the preservation of outdoor amenity space is apparent throughout the development, with dedicated outdoor meeting areas, a bustling farmer’s market and even Beakerhead setting up for an evening of festivities on the sports fields. Preservation of the historic location is visible via features such as the remaining concrete wall embedded into the playing fields at Murdoch Park that was once part of the structure of the old General Hospital. The tour finished at the Tool Library, located at the Community Centre, which provides over 1,000 tools to residents; a living example of the commitment to the sense of community thoughtfully created in this development.

At the tour's close, CREW Calgary members and guests enjoyed some delicious appetizers, beverages and some networking time at the Bridgeland Community Hall while being serenaded by a violin busker at the Bridgeland Farmer’s market. An idyllic end to an informative, enjoyable day!