Calgary's Platform parkade on 9th Avenue S.E. has made history by becoming the first parking structure to win the prestigious Governor General's Medal for Architecture. The award, presented by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, celebrates the building's unique design and forward-thinking concept.
A Parkade Like No Other
Known by various names such as the Parkade of the Future, The Platform, or the Ninth Avenue Parkade, this $80-million structure is located in the East Village near the Central Library and Calgary Municipal Building. It opened in 2021 and serves multiple purposes: it is part parkade, part events centre, part technology incubator, and part downtown viewing platform.
The building's elliptical helix shape is wrapped with metal posts, some resembling twisting railway tracks and others offset, giving the exterior an opaque quality. The design includes a rooftop patio with a designated photo spot overlooking downtown Calgary, as well as space for tech workshops and events.
Future-Ready Infrastructure
What sets The Platform apart is its adaptability. The structure was designed to be easily converted into office, light industrial, or residential space when demand for parking decreases. Sasa Radulovic, a partner at 5468796 Architecture, explained that the building's infrastructure—sprinklers, elevators, and stairs—are all sized for future uses. The floors have shallow slopes instead of steep corkscrews, and the open design allows natural light to penetrate deeply. Screens on the exterior can be replaced with windows with minimal effort.
Radulovic noted that winning this significant award was an honour, especially since no parkade had ever won the Governor General's Medal. He emphasized the building's environmental relevance: "Today, the greenest building is the one that's already built."
Recognition from the Royal Architectural Institute
The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada praised the project on its website, stating: "By transforming a conventional typology into adaptable urban infrastructure, the project demonstrates how public architecture can evolve alongside shifting environmental, economic, and social needs."
The Platform was designed by Kaisan Architecture and 5468796 Architecture, a Winnipeg-based firm. The collaboration resulted in an unprecedented project that redefines the role of a parking structure in the urban landscape.
