Tuesday, February 24, 2026
By Sam Lane
As Calgary evolves into one of Canada’s fastest-growing cities, a quieter but equally significant transformation is underway—one that’s reshaping its cultural identity. From new art galleries and museums to performance spaces and public art, Calgary is building the cultural infrastructure that will define its next century.
Entuitive’s structural engineering, building envelope, and sustainable performance teams have had front row seats building and re-shaping Calgary’s arts and culture institutions. These are the museums, concert halls, complex art installations, and cultural touchpoints where ideas and identity converge. Engineering precision meets the artistry of human experiences and cultures, while the city’s infrastructure grows to accommodate.
Supporting culture beyond cowboys
Calgary is the fastest-growing major city in Canada, with a population increase of 5.8 per cent between 2023 and 2024—the quickest among Canadian census metropolitan areas. This city was also crowned as the best place to live in Canada in 2025 due to its affordability, career opportunities, and outstanding quality of life. Calgary’s rapid growth and status as a top Canadian destination drives a rising demand for arts and culture infrastructure across the city.
“Calgary has long been celebrated for its western heritage, exemplified by the Calgary Stampede, and there’s a vibrant arts and culture scene here that deserves just as much attention,” says Brock Schroeder, CEO at Entuitive.
“We’re excited to have been part of the design team for the SAM Centre, showcasing western artifacts in a meaningful and modern way—but that’s just one part of this story. From contemporary public art installations to cultural institutions, we love to be part of projects that reflect the spectrum of creativity and community in Calgary and across Canada.”
Together, these services address challenges and potential opportunities to create a space where Calgarians and visitors can enjoy a vital, growing cultural scene.
Access to art for everyone
Working on projects that remove barriers and invite everyone to participate in Calgary’s, whether it’s through universal design principles, improved acoustics, or enhanced public spaces, helps make art more accessible and inclusive.
“At Contemporary Calgary, we’re supporting KPMB and GGA to transform an aging planetarium into a vibrant, welcoming space that reflects the evolving needs of the Contemporary Calgary modern art gallery,” says Greg Riewe, senior associate at Entuitive. “This includes the careful renovation and preservation of the heritage building, the creation of a new sculpture park, and the construction of a striking entrance pavilion and an education wing.
“The project is about opening a public cultural space where everyone can access and enjoy art. People can visit the new entrance pavilion and café, the education wing welcomes resident students and community programs, and the galleries host accessible exhibits. Projects like this can define the careers of our team members—it’s something you can bring your friends and family to for years to come.”
Whether it’s supporting bold architectural visions or helping bring public art to life, these opportunities connect us with communities and remind us that great design can be playful and expressive, and whenever possible, eye-catching.
Reconciliation through design
As a Partnership Accreditation in Indigenous Relations (PAIR) certified firm, Entuitive actively seeks opportunities to participate in reconciliation through design, elevating the voices and traditions of local Indigenous artists, creatives, and elders. The façade of a building is the single biggest opportunity to demonstrate culturally and aesthetically significant elements to the public.
“The Glenbow Museum is a great example of using façade to communicate a fresh approach,” says Mike Lembke, principal at Entuitive. “Our team is delivering building envelope consulting and commissioning on the full reclad of the building to allow for a more organic, light, and transparent impression.”
Projects like Glenbow help reimagine how architecture can support cultural connection—creating spaces that invite reflection, dialogue, and inclusion.
Sustainability as a creative driver
Arts and culture buildings offer a powerful opportunity to showcase a commitment to sustainability for a diverse audience of visitors. Approaching these projects with a creative mindset, integrating energy modeling, climate resilience strategies, embodied carbon, and holistic sustainability strategies reflect what is most important to the facility.
For the Werklund Centre Transformation (formerly Arts Commons Transformation), consulting work was done for both the expansion new build and the modernization of the existing facility.
With both new construction and renovation opportunities, The City’s Sustainable Buildings Strategy drives efficiency and building performance at the Werklund Centre Transformation and adjacent Olympic Plaza.
This collaboration with KPMB has been an inspiring journey, bringing together compliance with local energy codes, alignment with The City’s ambitious sustainability standards, and coordination with the team revitalizing the adjacent plaza.
By viewing sustainability as a creative driver—not a constraint—engineers and consultants ensure that each arts and culture building reflects the values of resilience and responsibility shared by the community it serves.
Education through design
Arts and culture buildings provide a shared space to experience cultural events. They’re also places of learning. These buildings host workshops, lectures, exhibitions, and performances that educate and inspire.
By designing buildings that support diverse programming and evolving needs, institutions like the Glenbow Museum and Contemporary Calgary fulfill their educational mandates and reach broader audiences. Strategic additions and programming can support the financial sustainability of arts and culture institutions, ensuring these spaces continue to educate and inspire Calgarians and visitors alike for years.
Celebrating the intersection of art and engineering
Barry Charnish has a passion for arts and culture projects. The principal and senior structural engineer at Entuitive, has worked on projects across North America, including the Canadian Museum of Human Rights, the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, and the Remai Modern art gallery of Saskatchewan.
“Working on arts and culture buildings is incredibly rewarding,” says Charnish. “These projects challenge us to think differently. To balance technical precision with artistic vision. They’re spaces where people come together to experience something greater than themselves, and it’s an honour to help bring those spaces to life.”
Building new frontiers for arts and culture
Calgary’s status as a cultural capital continues to grow and evolve as the city’s populace expands, with major municipal and private stakeholders partnering to complete projects such as the Calgary New Central Library, the Calgary Event Centre, and the expansion of the BMO Convention Centre.
Working in the arts and culture sector reflects the ideals that have helped Calgary rise: collaboration, community, innovation, accessibility, and sustainability. These projects also enrich the lives and culture of current and future Calgarians.
Sam Lane is Senior Associate, Discipline Lead – Sustainability + Performance with Entuitive.
[This article appeared in the January/February 2026 issue of ReNew Canada.]
Featured image: Constructed over the city’s busiest LRT line, a transfer system was developed for Calgary’s Central Library, which created the opportunity for a contiguous floor plate above the LRT line. (CMLC)
