The Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) has announced a design competition for new, permanent public washrooms in East Village.

The competition’s aim is to identify a proponent to design and build a structure that serves the functional needs of users, meets the community’s needs for safety, and aligns with the energy, vibrancy and personality carefully cultivated in East Village over the past 15 years.

Automated public washrooms were installed along the pathway at RiverWalk Plaza in 2012 and the washrooms served the community well for nearly a decade before being closed. A temporary washroom was then installed at the Crossroads—a pilot solution that has lead to a request for qualifications for permanent public washrooms at or near the same site.

Shortlisted proponents will be invited to submit an RFP, which will be reviewed by a jury whose members have proven expertise in design, aesthetics and inner-city neighbourhood complexities.

The jury of leading architects and urban planners will be looking for the submission that achieves design excellence, aligns with the character of the neighbourhood while incorporating safety, accessibility, and sustainability into the design. The jury includes:

·        Craig Dykers, Founding Partner, Snøhetta

·        Lourdes Juan, Founder and Urban Planner

·        Alfred Waugh, President and Founding Principal, Formline Architecture

·        Brent Bellamy, Creative Director at Number TEN Architectural Group

·        Kelly Coles, VP of Design and Construction at CMLC

The successful proponent for the new washrooms will be announced in early 2023 with the new washrooms opening in late 2023.

CMLC has invested more than $400 million into improvements to the community, from pedestrian bridges, pocket parks and people-first streetscape enhancements to major civic amenities.