The Balmoral Circus redesign is a remarkable example of how a simple intersection can be transformed into a community destination—one that responds to a neighbourhood’s evolving needs. Balmoral Circus was originally designed in the 1930s, when automobiles dramatically reshaped the urban landscape. The intersection, which featured four encircled quadrants and planting beds, showcased the formality celebrated during the City Beautiful Movement. Recently, the City of Calgary wanted to introduce traffic calming measures in advance of a new LRT development to protect the neighbourhood from cars cutting through the side streets. The designers and community knew the space could be more.

Through extensive public consultation, the team landed on a striking concept: “breathing room in a dense urban space”.

The driving force behind the design was the shift in resident needs. City pressures and modern population growth dictated nearby development of public transportation; yet the design team believed this project should be led with a focus on strong, modern urban design for the betterment of residents rather than simply changing traffic patterns.

The formality of the original layout was decidedly not conducive to play and connection. In 2020, the site was closed to vehicle traffic as part of the traffic calming exploration. During this time and throughout the pandemic, the space became an unexpected laboratory to explore the potential of a micro community park as part of the changes of the project.

The key features incorporate the site’s history and comments from the community:

•A promenade circles the park and creates a destination for walkers and runners, while also providing a buffer between the private homes and the inner public space.

•The north-south bike path that runs the length of 2nd Street is a vital corridor for bikers and encourages climate-friendly, human-powered transportation.

•Two central hemispheres, one hardscape and one softscape. The community wanted to preserve the surface that lent itself to street hockey and little ones on scooters or bicycles, while feedback also expressed the desire for green space to play and picnic.

•The planting beds not only house hardy foliage with seasonal interest. The site is also graded to drain stormwater to the beds, which are designed to absorb and filter runoff. Thus, the planters offer beauty and atmosphere while creating a more climate friendly and resilient park.

•The interior hardscape of the park is constructed with reinforced surfaces and power outlets, providing infrastructure block parties with food trucks.

•The park is graded on one plane with accessible routes at every entrance, for all modes of mobility.

The designers knew lighting would be key in transforming the area into a space that would truly feel useful, welcoming, and safe for residents of the community. The park also needed to fit seamlessly into the existing neighbourhood without disturbing residents with too-bright illumination. This introduced an interesting challenge to the team: safely light multiple pedestrian surfaces and grassy lawns, while respecting the neibourhood and night sky by reducing glare and up-light. All this while complementing and integrating with the landscape design.

As the park sits on an well used bike path, lighting now blends with the city system while not infringing upon the neighbors. The central area hosts light poles that were designed and aimed to provide pools of light users could pass through on the their evening commute. Along the perimeter, knee-height lit bollards cast light on the promenade path, allowing for a direct path for those looking to forgo moving through the center of the park.

We believe Balmoral Circus is among the nation’s best in urban design. The project has created a meaningful experience for the community when the original work was simply for traffic calming. Now, residents’ voices have been heard and valued: there is space for play, exercise, conversation, and beauty. There is a place to come together as the public realm has been undeniably enhanced.

The design team was always aligned in what they thought this project could be. The conceptual clarity is represented through initial sketches, renderings, and ultimately, the realization of the park itself. The team was unwavering in their commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration, as they were to responding to the desires of the community that were so clearly expressed when the area was closed to traffic. This project did more than integrate feedback from the residents - their voices were amplified and transformed the vision of the project. A neighbourhood was heard and a more positive outcome could not be imagined.

Balmoral Circus also demonstrates leadership in sustainability. Plantings are included to not only elevate the beauty of the lawns but are designed to absorb and filter runoff. The park is resilient and reduces water waste, highlighting both a modern physical design and a modern concept.
Balmoral Circus is more than an example of excellent design. It is what happens when the project team sees beyond the original scope; what happens when a city brings historical design into the present; what happens when a community is interested in itself. It is proof that true innovation often comes from the people closest to the project.