A brand-new permanent public washroom and pickleball court has broken ground in Calgary’s East Village. Both are strategically located adjacent to the playground, community garden, and off-leash dog park at Crossroads, near the intersection of 7th Avenue and 6th Street SE.
Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) initiated a public washroom design competition in August 2022 to seek out an innovative design concept that would not only fulfil the need for important social infrastructure and the community’s user and safety requirements but also align with the vibrancy and distinctive character of East Village.
“We are excited to introduce a new concept that blends the community need for a permanent public washroom with a sought-after sports amenity to East Village,” said Clare LePan, CMLC’s vice president of communications and strategic partnerships. “With more than 4,000 people who call East Village home and 80,000 visitors to our community annually, finding the right solution for a safe, accessible, and inclusive permanent public washroom has been paramount. The collaboration with Public City resulted not only in a functional facility but also a valuable community asset.”
Designed by Public City Architecture, the 3,000-square-foot facility features four universally accessible bathroom stalls—one wheelchair accessible with grab bars, a shared handwashing space, and a hand drying station, plus a fenced-in outdoor pickleball court. The facility also boasts a tiered spectator seating area and a living green roof with natural grasses.
“When designing the new structure, we took inspiration from the liveliness and inclusiveness synonymous with East Village. Pairing a public washroom with the rapidly expanding sport of pickleball was a unique challenge, but one we knew would add more pop to this vibrant, liveable urban neighbourhood,” explained Peter Sampson, principal and founding director of Public City. “The role of public spaces has evolved significantly over the years. They now serve as more than just facilities for washroom use or sports but have become gathering places where people can actively engage or simply take a break to observe.”
Construction on the new public washrooms will be managed by Delnor Construction and is set to begin in April 2024. The grand opening is set for the fall of 2024.
