Community Engagement

Engaging with the communities interested in the redevelopment of the King Edward School site is an important part of the due diligence period we are currently in. We will keep you updated here on what is being discussed at the community sessions (and you can let us know what your thoughts are - if they can). Our first public information session for the South Calgary communities was held on Wednesday, March 9th at Richmond Elementary School. Check back here for highlights from that meeting.

4th Community Open House Panels

The Community Open House panels include site plan renderings that suggest the intent of the development – conveying images that distinguish the different residential types in terms of proposed massing, heights and footprint. Appropriate density for the site will require further study in the way of traffic assessments and design development for the proposed buildings. Subsequent public consultation will occur when the project is determined feasible.

Community Open House Presentation #4 - October 26 2011

Community Open House Presentation #4 includes: an overview of the project’s objectives, the site plan last proposed in June; a revised site plan that meets the projected parking requirements through surface provisions and comparison with previous plan; and a preferred site plan proposal that delivers more artist housing and complete the streetscape by engaging alternative opportunities for parking and transportation. This may include partnerships, relaxations, permitting, curating of tenants and promotion of alternative transportation choices that require further study. 

4th Community Open House on October 26th

Submitted by Deeter Schurig on Wed, 11/09/2011 - 11:44

On Wednesday, October 26th 2011 a 4th Open House was held with an engaged group of 70 arts, heritage and community members in attendance. The presentation comes four months since the June Open House and conveys the evolution and refinement of the site plan since that time while anticipating an assurance of community support for the transformation of the King Edward School site before finalization of the purchase agreement.

The presentation to the community includes: an overview of the project’s objectives, the site plan last proposed in June; a revised site plan that meets the projected parking requirements through surface provisions and comparison with previous plan; and a preferred site plan proposal that delivers more artist housing and complete the streetscape by engaging alternative opportunities for parking and transportation. This may include partnerships, relaxations, permitting, curating of tenants and promotion of alternative transportation choices that require further study. 

As presented, the site renderings suggests the intent of the development – conveying images that distinguish the different residential types in terms of proposed massing, heights and footprint. Appropriate density for the site will require further study in the way of traffic assessments and design development for the proposed buildings. Subsequent public consultation will occur when the project is determined feasible.

4th Community Open House Presentation (VIDEO)

4th Community Open House Presentation (PDF) 

4th Community Open House Panels (PDF)

4th Community Open House Virtual Masterplan Flythrough (VIDEO)

4th Community Open House Community Feedback (PDF) 

 

Marda Gras Street Festival Shines!

Submitted by Deeter Schurig on Sun, 08/07/2011 - 22:11

 

What fantastic weather and attendance at this year's Marda Gras Festival - one could not ask for a more a perfect day to hit the streets and celebrate another cultural event in the city! Calgary Arts Development was pleased to join in these festivities with an invitation by the Marda Loop BRZ to share our vision for the  transformation of King Edward School into an arts incubator and we are glad we did.

Marda Gras Street Festival

Throughout the day we spoke with hundreds of you from the neighbourhood and other parts of the city who had interest in the project or stories to tell. It was great to hear the legacy of those who attended the school including accounts of  grandparents who were one of the first pupils, stories of fondly remembered reunions and parties in the gym to vividly remembered fire drills to the sound of an air raid siren! These stories all remind us of the formative value that is embedded in the walls of this landmark and how richly they can be brought back to life in a dialogue between friends.  

We are so pleased that you shared these memories and feel invigorated that our proposal keeps this heritage in the public trust for future generations' stories to  grow. Your support and sentiments that these are the types of places that Calgary needs - affirms that we are moving in the right direction, that the arts have a vital role in anchoring and promoting sustainable communities, and that community grows through engagement and participation at events like this. While much work continues, we look forward to further dialogue in realizing a continued legacy for King Edward School. 

As a final note, I leave you with sentiments from C.A. Johnson, a past teacher at King Edward School from the 1960's who captures it well:

“The school, every school, is a continuous tradition. It is a personal, life-receiving, life-giving. More than any other work-place, this institution is built with the spirits, lives and minds of all who come together here. There is really no past, no present; there is only the milieu in which we all grow. When we leave, we take with us the part of the school that we personally have become, we leave something of ourselves.” 

Constraints and Opportunities

Calgary Arts Development and The Calgary Foundation formed two advisory committees to assist in the due diligence process prior to finalizing the purchase of King Edward School. The Technical Advisory Committee was primarily responsible to provide expert advice on building science matters and the Community Advisory Committee for incubator visioning, community, and tenancy. For the work of master planning the site, the two advisory committees were merged to investigate the building, site and broader contextual considerations through a series of workshops. The attached presentation and diagram illustrates the results as graphic representation from these sessions. 

Project Vision and Process

Calgary Arts Development (CADA) and The Calgary Foundation's (TCF) presentation for the proposed revitalization of King Edward School includes: the project drivers, workplan, commitment to community engagement as a key component of a due diligence process, the arts incubator vision and key design concepts of the creative, learning and community 'commons' (as described in the May 20th blog post: Over 100 Attend 2nd Community Open House).

 

3rd Community Open House on June 15th Beats the Odds

Submitted by Deeter Schurig on Tue, 06/21/2011 - 15:28

On another rainy evening in Calgary, chock-a-block full of design charrettes, award presentations, and hockey finals - our 3rd Community Open House beat the odds and saw nearly 90 in attendance despite the competition! Following a similar structure to our previous open house, local residents and artists spent time investigating the information presented on display boards at the South Calgary Reform Church before a formal presentation, informal discussion, and a question and answer period.

3rd Community Open House Presentation (VIDEO) 
 

3rd Community Open House Presentation (PDF) 
                   
3rd Community Open House Panels (PDF)

3rd Community Open House Community Feedback (PDF) 

Presented first by The Calgary Foundation (TCF) and Calgary Arts Development (CADA) were the project drivers and community impact proposed with the revitalization of King Edward School, our commitment to community engagement as a key component of our due diligence process, and a realization of the vision through the concept of the creative, learning and community 'commons' (as described in the May 20th blog post: Over 100 Attend 2nd Community Open House).

Advisory Committee and consultant team discuss community input from May 18th open house

Submitted by Reid Henry on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 22:44

committee

COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS:

Bill Dickson

Board Member - The Calgary Foundation

 

Marc Doll

President – South Calgary Community Association

Owner, Marc Doll Homes

Area Resident

 

Bernadette Geronazzo

Executive Director – Marda Loop Business Revitalization zone

 

Michael Ireton

Former Executive Director  - South Calgary Community Association

Executive Director, Green Calgary

Area Resident

 

Laurel Johannesson

Media Artist, ACAD Faculty Member

 

Fran Morisset

Vice President - Kon-Strux Developments Inc.

Area Resident

 

Rob Mabee

Director, Axis Contemporary Art

 

Eric Moschopedis

Interdisciplinary Artist

Sessional Instructor, U of C Department of Drama

Studio Manager, Seafood Market Studios

 

Janet Naclia

Creative Cultural Liaison – ACE Communities

 

Meg Van Rosendaal

Board Member – Calgary Arts Development

 

Hannah Stilwell

Board Member – Calgary Arts Development

Co-founder, Decidedly Jazz Danceworks

 

Bob White

Consulting Director, Stratford Festival

Member of the Order of Canada 


TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS:

Paul Battistella

Owner, Battistella Developments

Member, CADA Art Spaces Committee

 

Howard Bell

President, Riverpark Properties Ltd

 

Carolyn Boston

Senior Project Manager, Lawson Projects

 

Ann Charlton

Parks Director, City of Calgary

 

Joni Carroll

President, Edifice Design + Project Management

Member, South Calgary Community Association Civic Affairs Committee

Area Resident

 

Harold Crittenden

Over 100 attend 2nd Community Open House

Submitted by Reid Henry on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 20:35

A great showing of support and ideas emerged from residents, artists and interested Calgarians from across the city at our 2nd Community Open House!

Download 2nd Community Open House Presentation

2nd Community Open House Panels

2nd Open House Community Feedback

Cover page

After the crowd had a chance to browse our project displays, we introduced some of our emerging ideas on what's driving the vision of the project. As a fundamental inspiration for our thinking, our team has been struck by the concept of a 'commons' or gathering place where ideas are constantly shared and exchanged.  With this in mind, the adaptive reuse of the King Edward School is focused on delivering three aspects of this overarching idea:




Community Open House on May 18th

Submitted by Deeter Schurig on Thu, 05/05/2011 - 16:07

Mark your calendars for 6:30pm-9pm on May 18th for our second Community Open House at the Calgary Community Reform Church. This will be a great opportunity to share in the dialogue of how to transform King Edward School into a revitalized community asset.

We are expecting a formal presentation at 7pm followed by community participation in master planning activities with our representatives and consultant team. Intimate table sessions will give local residents, artists, and not-for-profit representatives an opportunity to share ideas and consider strategies for how King Edward School may be reactivated as a sustainable and vital arts hub. For those interested in learning more about Calgary Arts Development and The Calgary Foundation and the proposal to transform King Edward School into an Arts Incubator this will also be facilitated.

We look forward to your participation at this open house and eagerly anticipate a diverse attendance from the local and arts communities.

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