Investors see the opportunity in Calgary — but so do we.
The Blue Sky City is in the middle of a city‑building boom, a coordinated push to make downtown more vibrant, livable and accessible. From cultural landmarks to major transit, these projects deliver on the pillars of Uplook, our economic action plan — and they’re coming fast.
Billions of dollars in public — and private — funds are being invested over the next decade, driving long‑term growth and signalling a bold commitment to downtown renewal. Here’s a look at some of the biggest moves reshaping Calgary’s future:
Green Line LRT
Calgary’s largest infrastructure investment ever — $6.25 billion from all three levels of government — is transforming how people move. The first stage will connect Shepherd in the southeast to downtown, with plans to eventually run from the deep southeast in Seton to the city’s northern reaches at 160 Avenue N, adding 46 kilometres of track and 29 new stations.
Work on the downtown alignment is already underway, and once complete, the Green Line will link communities and employment hubs city‑wide, slashing commute times and opening new doors for business and residential growth along the corridor.
Arts Commons transformation and Olympic Plaza renewal
A $660 million cultural reboot is underway. Arts Commons — soon to be renamed Werklund Centre — is getting a brand‑new 1,000‑seat theatre and a major modernization of its existing spaces, while Olympic Plaza will be reimagined as a vibrant public gathering place as part of the largest cultural infrastructure investment currently underway in Canada.
Construction on the new Arts Commons building began in 2025, with the expansion set to open in 2028. Once complete, it will dramatically boost Calgary’s arts infrastructure and audience capacity, creating a stronger cultural heartbeat downtown.
East Village Revitalization
Once an overlooked industrial zone, East Village has been reimagined into one of Calgary’s most vibrant mixed‑use neighbourhoods. The city and CMLC invested more than $400 million in public infrastructure — building the RiverWalk, elevated streets, plazas and bridges.
That public investment has already unlocked nearly $3 billion in private development, delivering new housing, restaurants, retail and cultural spaces that now draw residents and visitors alike to a revitalized riverfront district.
Scotia Place & the Culture + Entertainment District
The Saddledome’s swan song is Calgary’s chance to level up. Scotia Place — a $1.2 billion events centre — will anchor the Culture + Entertainment District with an NHL‑sized arena, a community rink, shops and plazas.
Scheduled to open for the 2027 NHL season, the project is more than an arena replacement — it’s a catalyst for year‑round festivals, concerts and street‑level activity, driving new investment in the downtown east end.
BMO Centre Expansion
A $500 million expansion of the BMO Centre opened in 2024, making it Western Canada’s largest convention venue. The project doubled Calgary’s convention footprint to more than a million square feet of flexible event space.
That kind of capacity means bigger conferences, more exhibitions and a steady stream of visitors — an estimated $100 million in annual economic impact — all helping to energize Calgary’s hospitality sector and drive additional investment in Stampede Park.
Skyline‑shaping hotel towers
Calgary isn’t just thinking big — we’re building big. The 69‑storey W Calgary and 62‑storey JW Marriott hotel-residential towers will be the tallest buildings in the city when they open in 2029 and 2030. Along with a third hotel slated for the Stampede grounds, these privately led projects will bring $1.47 billion in new investment, more than 700 hotel rooms, 360 residences and over 48,000 square feet of meeting space to our core.
With rooftop bars, spas, street-level retail and striking architecture and vibrant street‑level energy, these mixed-use towers are a visible vote of confidence in the city’s growth and appeal to global travelers. They’ll generate more than 11,000 jobs and $230 million annually in GDP — reshaping the skyline and reinvesting in the city’s future.
Photo: Truman/CMLC
The Glenbow Museum
Closed since 2021 for a top‑to‑bottom transformation, Glenbow will reopen in 2026 as Canada’s first free‑admission museum — forever. The redesign adds 44,000 square feet of modernized gallery space across eight floors.
This $205-million investment reflects Calgary’s belief that art and culture should be accessible to everyone — a bold move that positions the city as a leader in cultural inclusion and innovation.
Downtown office conversions
Calgary is turning a challenge into an opportunity — and other cities have noticed. Through the Downtown Development Incentive Programthe City is tackling high office vacancies head‑on by helping developers reimagine outdated towers as homes, hotels, post-secondaries and mixed‑use spaces. The innovative program has seen Calgary the focus of stories by international publications like the BBC and the Wall Street Journal.
It’s more than a grant program; it’s a blueprint that’s been studied and replicated by cities across Canada and beyond looking for bold solutions to downtown revitalization. Calgary has already committed over $200 million in incentives, unlocking fourteen approved projects that will remove two million square feet of underused office space and create more than 2,000 new homes in the heart of the city.
One standout so far is the former Nexen building, now set to become a 180,000-square-foot innovation hub for the University of Calgary’s School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape — a win for students, for vibrancy and for Calgary’s future.
The ambition doesn’t stop there. By 2031, Calgary aims to convert six million square feet of former office space — cutting vacancy rates in half and fueling a thriving, live‑work‑play downtown that’s attracting residents, businesses and fresh investment back to the core.
A new chapter for Calgary’s core
From transit and trade to arts, sports and urban living, Calgary’s slate of major projects reflects an unprecedented investment in city-building.
The combined impact will be a reinvigorated city center — one with modern transit, lively cultural and entertainment districts, world-class public spaces and a growing residential community.
As the pieces fall into place over the coming decade and further projects are announced, Calgary’s commitment to downtown vibrancy is clear. The city is leveraging bold investments to catalyze economic growth and enhance quality of life.
The momentum is palpable — and it’s positioning Calgary’s core as a dynamic, inclusive and resilient urban center for decades to come.
Learn more about Uplook: An Action Plan for Our Economy and see our vision for Calgary’s future here.