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Stephen Avenue Vision, Concept Design and Streetscape Master Plan

Shaping public realm plans to reactivate public life in the City of Calgary

Sector

Civic & Public

Region

North America

Timespan

2019-2023

Credit: Gehl

Stephen Avenue in Calgary is experiencing a decline in public life. Gehl’s initial study revealed missing connections between key destinations along the Avenue and uneven public life patterns. In response, the City of Calgary engaged Gehl to develop an Action Plan, followed by a Streetscape Master Plan, to transform visions into actionable designs.

The multi-modal street is designed as a neighborhood-scale streetscape that balances two-way vehicular traffic with a people-focused public environment. Credit: Gehl
In addition to providing shade, enhancing aesthetics, and mitigating urban heat and reducing stormwater runoff, trees along these blocks will provide special moments of visual interest with ornamental flowering and fall foliage. Credit: Gehl

Action plan to master plan

Stephen Avenue is Calgary’s primary downtown mainstreet, connecting the residential and educational to the civic and commercial. However, changes in the economy have challenged its vibrancy. Gehl, Stantec, and James Lima Planning partnered with the City of Calgary to transform the Avenue into a future-proof hub connecting people and places.

Gehl’s initial Social Spatial study informed the Action Plan to guide Stephen Avenue’s transformation. During Covid-19, the City tested Gehl’s proposals with temporary installations featuring experimental furniture, artistic programming, and creative wayfinding to engage the public and gather insights for the permanent redesign. The finalized Streetscape Master Plan in 2023 integrates thirteen blocks with three street typologies, rebalancing modal hierarchies to enhance pedestrian activity. Dedicated spaces along the Avenue accommodate diverse public and commercial activities, bolstering vibrancy year-round, especially in evenings and winter.

The Master Plan unlocks Stephen Avenue’s potential as a catalyst for change throughout Calgary’s historic urban core, supporting a strengthened downtown neighborhood and providing essential amenities for residents, visitors, and businesses through a first-class public realm.

The design aims to enhance connections to and from the Plus 15 Walkway network. Implementing wayfinding signage that's both simple and clear improves navigation while serving as a gateway feature that strengthens the identity of the corridor. Credit: Gehl
Blaine Merker, Enterprise & Corporations Lead, Head of Climate, Partner Sofie Kvist, Project Director Rebecca Cook, Project Manager Aja Jeanty, Urban Designer Marina Recio Rodriguez, Senior Designer
The river lies right on the city’s doorstep and offers a relaxing respite from the urban hustle and bustle, yet it is often difficult for all users to access. Credit: Gehl

Revitalizing and connecting Melbourne’s city centre to its riverfront

  • Place Activation
  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Strategy
Credit: LHM/MOR, DobnerAngermann

Modernizing Munich’s old town as a place for all

  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Mobility
  • Urban Strategy
Broadway at Times Square in 2009, after Gehl worked with the City of New York and the Department of Transport on a major urban realm and bicycle strategy. Credit: Department of Transport (DOT)

Redefining New York City’s relationship with its streets

  • Place Activation
  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Strategy
Credit: Van Leer Foundation

Advocating for child-friendly cities globally

  • Community Engagement
  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Strategy
Credit Gehl

Expanding people-first transportation options in a booming city

  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Mobility
  • Urban Strategy
In 2022, the Gehl team reimagined a parking lot into a space fostering vibrant public life. The project’s success led to its permanent transformation, highlighting the potential for underutilized urban areas to be repurposed into thriving community spaces. Credit: Patrick Waldschmitt

Bringing more greenery, healthy mobility, and public life into Karlsruhe’s inner city

  • Social Spatial Research
  • Urban Strategy

‘People-first’ includes you

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