The BMO Convention Centre in Calgary, Canada, was expanded with an investment of C$500m ($373.2m), making it the biggest conference facility in western Canada and the second largest in the country.
The centre is suitable for national and international conventions and congresses, meetings, galas, trade and consumer shows, as well as speaker engagements and luncheons, promoting tourism in the area.
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Developed by the Calgary Stampede, a community organisation, and Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC), the project was an important part of the city’s Rivers District Master Plan and helped establish the region as Calgary’s culture and entertainment district.
The Calgary Stampede and BMO, a financial services company and the supporter of the Calgary Stampede, have renewed their partnership for an additional ten years after working together for more than 124 years, extending their collaboration until the end of 2033. As part of this new agreement, BMO will continue to hold the naming rights for the BMO Centre, including its recent expansion. This ensures that the BMO Centre will keep its name as it welcomes both local and international guests in the years to come.
The design for the expansion was unveiled in June 2020 while the ground-breaking ceremony was held in April 2021. The expansion was opened to the public in June 2024.
BMO Convention Centre location
The BMO Convention Centre is situated in Stampede Park, south of downtown Calgary in Alberta, Canada.
The developers are also working on a proposed 220-room BMO Centre convention hotel adjacent to the centre. The hotel will serve the needs of the convention venue’s clients, as well as visitors of the Calgary Stampede, Arts Commons, the Scotiabank Saddledome, the new Central Library, and other cultural and entertainment facilities in the vicinity.
BMO Convention Centre expansion details
The expansion project focused on transforming an existing facility with historical significance in the city, incorporating key elements such as the main entry plaza, pavilion event space, cafe, and Grand Staircase, along with retail spaces, an exhibit hall, and prefunctional areas on the western side. These components were seamlessly integrated to create a larger, world-class facility with a harmonious design.
The BMO Convention Centre is expanded with a 565,000ft² (52,490m²) area spread across three levels. The expansion makes the Tier 1 convention facility span more than one million square feet of rentable space to accommodate 33,000 people.
The expansion’s design, inspired by Calgary’s natural landscape and the Stampede, includes a metal panel facade, a 170ft curved canopy illuminated by the Pavilion Lights, and an outdoor plaza. The three-storey structure offers 100,000ft² of new exhibition space, 38 additional meeting rooms ranging from 300ft² to 5,000ft², two new ballrooms – the largest in Alberta – and spacious central gathering space reminiscent of hotel lobbies.
The guests are greeted by a prominently placed concierge desk beneath a neon cowboy marquee installation as they enter the facility.
The Exchange is a striking 15,000ft², 21m-tall central gathering space of the expansion that showcases the largest indoor three-storey fireplace in Canada and nine independent break-out spaces, complemented by the Exchange Bar for post-meeting conversations and networking opportunities.
The 2,500ft² Brand Room on the second level of the BMO Centre features leather-wrapped doors and is ideal for event bookings. It opens to an 11,000ft² outdoor covered patio overlooking Stampede Park.
The Champions Ballroom offers 50,000ft² of flexible, column-free space in the expanded BMO Centre suitable for various events such as weddings, parties, speaker sessions, or interactive classrooms. Additionally, the Percheron Ballroom provides an additional 20,000ft² of space for unique event requirements.
Outdoor plaza details at BMO Convention Centre
The centre’s vast outdoor plaza on the southern side of the building includes a 100,000ft² area with public art installations.
The Spirit of Water is a monumental sculpture designed as a dynamic gathering space and landmark for the plaza. The sculpture stands 70ft-tall, 45ft-wide and weighs 112,000 pounds. Painted in a custom fluoropolymer blue, the sculpture symbolises the power, vitality, and fluidity of water.
The central pedestrian pathway, known as the Track, serves as the main connecting artery of the plaza.
BMO Convention Centre details
The BMO Convention Centre includes an event plaza at the front of the building. The centre is structured across three levels, notably the exhibit hall, meeting room, and ballroom levels. A central hub runs through the centre of the building.
The 350,000ft² of contiguous exhibit space is divided into seven halls, including five halls with 50,000ft², one hall with 60,000ft² and one hall with 40,000ft².
It also includes 150,000ft² of meeting space, a 12,000ft² ballroom-The Palomino Room, The Arabian Room, The Mustang Room, and the Quarter Horse Room.
The Arabian Room is a versatile space for meetings, luncheons, and events, divisible into three sections (A, B, and C) ranging from 784ft² to 1,176ft². The Mustang Room is suited for small to medium-sized events, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows and an atrium for breakout sessions or light receptions. The Quarter Horse Room, located next to the Palomino Room, can also be divided into three sections (A, B, and C), ideal for small meetings or as a volunteer, staff, green, or dressing room for larger events in the Palomino Room.
The event spaces and public areas in the facility feature modern technology for quick connectivity.
Background and construction timeline of BMO Convention Centre
BMO Convention Centre has been serving as the city’s premier location for meetings, trade shows, and conferences since 1982.
It underwent two expansions in 2000 and 2009. In addition, 100,000ft² of space, known as Hall F on the northeastern side of the site, was constructed in 2020. Exhibit Halls B and C were also kept open for visitors from September 2021.
Concrete foundation work for another expansion, including the installation of spiral piling connecting the building to the bedrock, began in August 2021 and concluded in February 2022.
The structural steelworks were finished in November 2022, and the building expansion was fully energised and weathertight by October 2023.
Plaza landscaping activities started in November 2023, with the substantial completion of the building achieved by March 2024.
Financing for the expansion project
The project received a contribution of C$166.6m ($124m) from the Government of Canada, under the New Building Canada Fund while Alberta and the City of Calgary provided financing of C$166.6m ($124m) each via the Calgary Rivers District Community Revitalization Levy.
Calgary Stampede provided funding of C$3.9m ($2.9m).
Contractors involved
The project was designed by a team comprising Stantec, Populous, and S2 Architecture. The project team also includes convention centre operations specialist HLT Advisory and project management services provider M3 Development.
PCL Construction received a contract to provide construction management services. Walters Group, a steel construction company based in Canada, was subcontracted by PCL for the supply and installation of structural steel and metal decks and some of the feature stairs for the project.
RJC Engineers and Magnusson Klemencic Associates (MKC) were chosen for structural works.
Entuitive, an engineering consultant, provided building envelope consulting and commissioning services. Entro, a branding and environmental design company, was selected to design the wayfinding signage programme. O2 Planning and Design led the design for the landscape.
Hall F was delivered by Gibbs Gage, an architectural company; and Stuart Olson, a construction and industrial services provider; while mechanical engineering for the hall, including HVAC, plumbing and fire protection, and audio-visual (AV) design for the BMO centre expansion, was provided by Smith + Andersen. Heavy Industries installed the panel lights on the canopy.
The Spirit of Water sculpture was engineered by engineering services company Diales, fabricated in the UK, and assembled and installed in Calgary by Littlehampton Welding with local support from Heavy, a public art and architectural, placemaking features provider.
Alberta Boot Company wrapped the Brand Room’s doors in polished black leather. More than 80 consultants and contractors were involved in the project.
