The winners of Calgary’s 2025 Winter City Design Competition have been revealed. From glowing glass domes to playful, tactile pavilions, Calgary’s downtown is set to dazzle this winter.
The winners: Serenity Passage and Dot Spot were selected from more than three dozen submissions for their creativity, community engagement and ability to redefine winter as an exciting experience rather than just a season.
“Calgary’s future success relies on downtown being a place for Calgarians and visitors to live, work, learn, play and shop year-round,” said Kate Zago, project lead, Winter City Design Competition. “We’re thrilled to once again partner with Chinook Blast and showcase the incredible and imaginative designs that will bring light, energy and joy while redefining what it means to thrive in the coldest months of the year.”
Launched in 2021, the Winter City Design Competition encourages artists, architects, and designers to reimagine Calgary’s outdoor spaces for winter, turning the coldest months into an inspiring and engaging time to connect in the heart of the city.
Serenity Passage is a temporary art installation featuring more than 200 blown glass rondels created in collaboration with glass artists from Calgary and surrounding areas. These rondels are arranged within an illuminated archway forming a seven-foot-tall, five-foot-wide passage accessible to individuals of all mobility levels. Upon entering the Serenity Passage, visitors experience an immersive environment with a glowing glass dome overhead, encased in plexiglass. Serenity Passage is an interactive installation that brings community members together to enjoy the winter season.
“The Winter City Design Competition is all about unlocking creativity and highlighting the transformative power of dynamic public spaces in the winter months,” said Leah Petrucci, lead designer of Serenity Passage. “Through the creation of Serenity Passage, I look forward to showing Calgarians the beauty of glass blowing and hope to create conversation, evoke thought and provide a chance for people to connect with their city – and one another – in a completely different way.”
The Dot Spot Pavilion is a vibrant, interactive public art installation. The design is inspired by the snow sled or flying saucer, a familiar winter object for many Calgarians. Rooted in childhood memories of tobogganing, the sled is repurposed as the main architectural material. The pavilion uses rotating circular sled elements, making it a tactile, eye-catching centerpiece. By fostering community connections and outdoor activities, the pavilion transforms the urban environment into a warm and engaging space, embracing the spirit of winter.
“Our team is passionate about how design can bring people together and enrich public space, especially during the winter season. We’re excited to unveil Dot Spot and offer a new destination to the downtown that encourages people to stay, connect, and celebrate winter together,” said Joshua Clarke, one of the designers behind Dot Spot.
