Calgary’s Scotia Place starts foundation work

The City of Calgary announced that Scotia Place has officially marked the start of below-ground and foundation construction. Calgarians will soon see the new phase take shape as crews work to stay on track for a Fall 2027 opening.

“This concrete and rebar work will support the entire Scotia Place structure; it is the literal foundation for all that is to come for Scotia Place as the new heart of entertainment for Calgary,” said Bob Hunter, Scotia Place Project Team.

By early 2025, crews had installed more than 1,100 structural piles surrounding the footprint of the site — a critical step in ensuring Scotia Place’s stability. Crews have begun to stand up rebar panels and pour concrete into 35-foot-tall forms for the first series of foundation walls.

“This work supports more than the foundation though — it’s the groundwork for a new destination for celebration, connection and community in Calgary’s emerging Culture + Entertainment District,” says Hunter.

Moving forward structural concrete and steel work will continue to take shape across the site, starting with foundation walls, followed by underground columns, stairs, elevator cores, and access ramps throughout the year. This year will also see underground mechanical, electrical and plumbing connections installed.

The new event and ice surface is 35 feet below ground, allowing for seamless access to the ground floor amenities that include indoor and outdoor spaces and accessible seating options. Beyond hosting sporting events and concerts, Scotia Place also includes a 1,000-seat community arena, indoor and outdoor public plazas and gathering spaces, multiple dining options available year-round, and The Calgary Flames Store, attracting visitors from near and far to the The District.

Once built, Scotia Place will have removed more than 308,000 cubic metres (123 Olympic swimming pools) of dirt to make space for more than 41,000 cubic metres (24 hockey rinks filled one metre deep) of concrete and 9,000 metric tons (weight of 1,500 elephants) of rebar that will reinforce the structure and more than 4,450 kilometres (a round trip from Calgary to Chicago) of wire throughout the walls.

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