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Canadian RiverWalk03-25-22 | Feature

Canadian RiverWalk

Bow RiverWalk project in the Canadian city of Calgary, Alberta.
by Mike Dahl, LASN

In Calgary, Alberta, the Bow RiverWalk designed by Stantec Consulting's local office helped revitalize the East Village, a previously neglected district of the city. Emphasizing flood control and a renewed interest in the natural assets of the river for pedestrians and cyclists, the goal was to also connect future redevelopment opportunities with the greater regional pathway system. At night, the illumination features constantly changing color accents coordinated with those on the Langevin Bridge. The project's distinctive lighting design earned an Award of Merit from the Illumination Engineering Society of North America.
The waterfront plaza features custom-made benches of powder-coated, gray steel bases topped with red meranti wood. To direct the RGB strip lights on the bases down and not out, they were installed underneath the ledge created by bases' inward angle at the bottom. The lights' glow on the rough concrete surfaces throughout the plaza emulates the look of the river. Birch, ash and aspen trees are illuminated with up lights.
Thousands of color-changing LED lights adorn the 100-year-old Reconciliation Bridge. The aim of this part of the design was to have the ability to illuminate the bridge in colors that celebrate specific instances such as holidays and to also let the public have a say in the color scheme at times. Residents can submit their ideas to honor such moments as a favorite charity event, a neighborhood milestone, a school project, or more.
Thousands of color-changing LED lights adorn the 100-year-old Reconciliation Bridge. The aim of this part of the design was to have the ability to illuminate the bridge in colors that celebrate specific instances such as holidays and to also let the public have a say in the color scheme at times. Residents can submit their ideas to honor such moments as a favorite charity event, a neighborhood milestone, a school project, or more.
At the permanent public washrooms, safety was the key factor in the lighting selection. Very bright RGB strips installed at the soffit lines not only help to provide security, they also create an interesting pattern around the top edges. The pad in front of this structure is textured concrete.
At the permanent public washrooms, safety was the key factor in the lighting selection. Very bright RGB strips installed at the soffit lines not only help to provide security, they also create an interesting pattern around the top edges. The pad in front of this structure is textured concrete.
This outlook and seating area feature a red meranti wood deck and hand railings. The enclosed lighting strip installed under the hand railing accents the frosted strips on the glass, which along with its powder-coated metal construction, makes up the rest of the custom-built assembly.
This outlook and seating area feature a red meranti wood deck and hand railings. The enclosed lighting strip installed under the hand railing accents the frosted strips on the glass, which along with its powder-coated metal construction, makes up the rest of the custom-built assembly.
The main function of the pedestrian pole lights and bollards is to provide safety for the cyclists and pedestrians that use the pathway but were also selected for their aesthetics. They were placed where the RiverWalk intersects with the neighborhood's sidewalk system. Unilock pavers accent the path.
As opposed to man-made materials like concrete walls, the bioengineering plan for flood control specified natural materials such as these mixed, native, low maintenance grasses whose root systems help prevent erosion. The side lights on these bollards help illuminate the steps down to the river, which were created with pavers and stones from neighboring sites. The placement of the bollards helps ensure that their light does not spill onto the river, which was a key goal of the lighting design. The glow on the river here is from the transportation lights across the way.

Proving that an urban waterfront could be upgraded with much needed flood protection while at the same time undergo a transformation into an appealing destination for recreation was the goal of the Bow RiverWalk project in the Canadian city of Calgary, Alberta.

The result is a two-and-a-half-mile promenade and urban waterfront park, designed to preserve and guard its river environment - one that pedestrians and cyclists can enjoy in the city's eastern downtown.

Taking the Lead
Heading up this enormous task was Stantec Consulting Ltd. a planning, engineering, landscape architecture, surveying, environmental sciences, project management, project economics, architecture and interior design firm that counts more than 14,000 employees working in over 230 locations.

The site showcases distinctive lighting, overlooks, a waterfront plaza and steps down to the river. RiverWalk is not only community-friendly but also sturdy stormwater protection for the surrounding area.

"Designing it was a complex task. We needed to accommodate pedestrians, cyclists, and the surrounding community while preserving the beauty of the river's edge," Ryan Mortson, Stantec's project manager for the Bow RiverWalk, reports.

The plans included seating areas, permanent public washrooms and market space for food trucks and local vendors. Riverbank revitalization also resulted in nature preservation.

"RiverWalk provides all Calgarians with a distinct urban experience that has become both a destination and a journey on Calgary's river pathway system," says Stantec's David Spencer, lead designer. "The pathways are filled with people all year round. It is incredible to see so many people embrace the revitalization we envisioned."

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The firm was contracted by the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) to come up with a strategy for planning and construction of the three-phase project.

"It has dramatically transformed the way Calgarians are able to experience the Bow River," Michael Brown, president and CEO of CMLC states. "RiverWalk has become a year-around destination allowing visitors toe-dipping access to our beautiful river and a gathering space unlike anywhere else in Calgary.

Lighting Design Details
For the electrical design of this project, Stantec formed an internal team, which included landscape architects, urban designers, architects, planners and electrical engineers. They also worked directly with some manufacturers to develop custom applications to meet their needs.

The construction process was, "very fast and furious," according to Chris Jennings, a senior principal at the firm. "Our seasons are so short and the developers were interested in getting things done quickly."

The main goal for the lighting was to increase safety and ease of navigation at night, encouraging year-round, high traffic use. But the team also had to be careful, for environmental reasons, not to have too much light directed onto the water.

And at the same time, the planners wanted some theatrics, and for the lights to be visible to the passersby across the river on Memorial Drive - a very busy roadway that carries much of the traffic going in and out of downtown. The hope was that it would pique their interest thereby increasing the area's appreciation and use.

The project team did everything from initial design to service in the field to make sure all aspects of the design were achieved correctly.

"Our electrical crew went out at night and helped position fixtures," stresses Jennings.

As for the results, he states, "It's like a feather in the design cap for all the people who were involved in it. The lighting gives the area a totally different feel between day and night."

Lighting Difficulties
Since it was such a long, narrow expanse that the project encompassed, making sure that all the lighting worked together was a worry.

The country's rigorous environmental regulations had to be adhered to, for instance, the lighting on the overlooks had to have minimal light trespass onto the water.

When strategizing the lighting system on the bridge, the team had to make sure that it presented no interference with motorists.

Another concern was designing the electrical system that would be so close to water, and sometimes possibly underwater due to flooding. To accommodate this, the plan called for watertight connections and wire running through conduit.

Accolades
The Bow RiverWalk project was presented with a Lighting Design Award of Merit from the Illumination Engineering Society of North America. It was also one of the five finalists selected by the Urban Land Institute for its Urban Open Space Awards in 2012 and took home the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects National Merit Award in 2015.

But possibly the greatest tribute to the project's design and implementation came when it was put to the test a few months after completion as a major flood cascaded through the area. Even though the hearty plants and shrubs that were part of the design's bioengineering solution had not matured, the vast majority of the park, including the lighting, survived with minimum damage.

"Resiliency works best when all elements of a project are interconnected. That's exactly what we were able to do with our design for RiverWalk," the company concluded.

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