Populous designs Western Canada's largest convention center

The project expands the site of the historic Calgary Stampede rodeo, redefining the convention center typology and revolutionizing the visitor experience.

In Calgary, Alberta, Canada, the BMO Centre has been inaugurated after a $500 million expansion, making it the largest convention center in Western Canada with a capacity of 33,000 people. The project, designed by Populous, draws inspiration from the Calgary region and the surrounding prairies, incorporating characteristic elements such as the sculpted banks of the Bow and Elbow Rivers, the rolling hills transitioning into the Rocky Mountains, and the spirit of the Calgary Stampede, the annual rodeo held in the city every July.

The new BMO Centre represents an innovative convention center with futuristic architecture that revolutionizes the guest experience through unprecedented functionalities. The expansion added a total of 565,000 square feet, including over 100,000 square feet of new exhibition space, 38 new meeting rooms, and two new ballrooms totaling 70,000 square feet, as well as a grand central gathering space. The project features a composite metal panel roof highlighted by a sweeping 170-foot curved canopy that extends into the outdoor public space, drawing visitors towards the main entrance and its grand staircase. The underside of the canopy is adorned with thousands of programmable LED lights.

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