The Platform: Canada's first award-winning parkade

The Platform — officially the Ninth Avenue Parkade — has become the first parking structure in Canada to be awarded the Governor General's Medal for Architecture.

Located in East Village near the Central Library and Calgary Municipal Building, the $80-million elliptical helix structure is part parkade, part events centre, part technology incubator, and part downtown viewing platform. The award from the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada honours its unprecedented design approach.

Opened in 2021, the building was engineered to allow future conversion to office, light industrial, or residential use as demand for parking evolves. Kaisan Architecture and Winnipeg-based 5468796 Architecture collaborated on this "future-proofing" concept.

The structure's design innovations make conversion feasible. Rather than steep corkscrews, the parking ramps are nearly flat, allowing shallow slopes between levels. Floors are designed to allow light to penetrate deep into the building. The structure is not fully enclosed but uses screens, so windows can be added with minimal effort. Sprinklers, elevators, and stairs are all sized to accommodate any future building type.

"By transforming a conventional typology into adaptable urban infrastructure, the project demonstrates how public architecture can evolve alongside shifting environmental, economic, and social needs," the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada said.

Sasa Radulovic, a partner with 5468796 Architecture, called the recognition "significant." He emphasized the building's environmental philosophy: "Today, the greenest building, the most environmentally friendly building, is the one that's already built."

The rooftop patio includes a designated picture-taking spot with downtown Calgary in the background. The building also houses space for programs and workshops serving tech companies and start-ups, which can be booked for events.