Calgary Loves Sky Bridges
It all started in mid ‘60s when Harold Hanen a planner with the City of Calgary suggested that one way to make our downtown a more attractive place for workers and shoppers. Hanen was a very involved in the Winter Cities movement at the time, where urban planners shared ideas on city building for northern cities that must deal with different climate issues than southern cities. This was long before the challenges facing us today with climate change.
Fast forward to 2020’s and not only is Calgary’s downtown defined by its Plus 15 pedestrian bridges (known in most cities as sky bridges) that are 15 feet above the sidewalk. The early bridges were simple elongated rectangles that joined to two buildings, without any consideration of how the facades of the bridge complimented the façade of the buildings. But gradually the bridges have become more and more their own design statement. And new office buildings have embraced how to create unique urban gathering spaces as part of what is now a unique pedestrian experience.
The +15 bridges provide a unique perspective of downtown streets.
The +15 system includes dozens of attractive gathering places.
The City of Calgary website states:
Since the construction of the first Plus 15 bridge in 1969, the Plus 15 network has grown to 86 bridges and over 16 kilometres of elevated, weather-protected and climate controlled walkways in downtown Calgary. The Plus 15 network is a unique part of Calgary’s downtown landscape that supports the economy, enables pedestrian mobility for all ages and abilities and connects people to services and destinations throughout downtown.
I thought it would be fun to create a photo essay of some of Calgary sky bridges.
Harmony Park Plus 15 bridge in winter
Harmony Park in spring the +15 is hidden by the trees.
People & Places
Not Just Downtown
Today sky bridges are not only found in the downtown, but at the University of Calgary, Foothills Medical Centre and the largest sky bridge crosses Mcleod Trail to connect Chinook Centre with pedestrians walking from the LRT station a few blocks away.
Studio Bell sky bridge links the museum to the King Eddy Hotel Calgary’s iconic live music venue.
Chinook Mall sky bridge
A long sky bridge connect the new Calgary Cancer Centre to the other buildings on the Foothills Medical Centre campus.
South Health Campus sky bridge
Last Word
While many urban planners today curse the +15 walkway and blame it for sucking the life out of the streets below, downtown workers and visitors love them for their comfort and convenience. Yes it can take a bit of time to figure out how they work, but that is part of the fun!