Calgary’s BMO Centre will be Western Canada’s largest convention space after its opening on June 5, 2024. The 565,000-square-foot expansion to the current facility will include 38 meeting rooms, two ballrooms, a meeting space with a private 11,000-square-foot balcony and Canada’s largest indoor fireplace.
The Exchange, a new central gathering space, includes an indoor fireplace clad in blackened steel and copper. Nearly 70 feet high, it is Canada’s largest indoor fireplace yet and captures the essence of sitting around a campfire and exchanging ideas. The culinary experience at BMO Centre draws inspiration from the communal kitchens of western ranches, where long days end around plentiful tables. Led by Chef Nicholas Pena-Alvarez, the new menu is centered around fresh, locally grown produce.
Accessibility has also been a cornerstone of the BMO Centre expansion. Exteriors include widened sidewalks, intuitive wayfinding patterns to replace physical signage and a designated service animal relief area. Inside the facility, the incorporation of universally inclusive design standards such as wide hallways, automatic door controls, universal washrooms with barrier-free stalls and adult change tables and cane-detectible barriers ensures that the facility is accessible for all.
A focal point of the outdoor plaza will be a public art installation by U.K.-based artist Gerry Judah. “Spirit of Water” is a 70-foot high, 112,000-pound steel sculpture composed of over 200 vertical steel tubes cascading downwards to create the appearance of a splash of water. According to Judah, it serves as a metaphor for Calgary as a growing city that remains connected to its history, values and dreams.
Outside, the building’s large swooping canopy has built-in LED lights that can be programmed for a light show. Art found inside the BMO Centre will be curated by the Calgary Stampede and highlight the destination’s western spirit.
For more information, visit www.visitcalgary.com.
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