Below-ground foundational work begins on Calgary’s new event centre

Crews working at the site of Scotia Place in Calgary on April 14, 2025. (CTV News)

Crews have started pouring concrete below ground as construction continues on Calgary’s new event centre.

The City of Calgary provided an update on the $900-million Scotia Place project on Monday, marking the start of the below-ground phase of construction.

So far, crews have installed more than 1,100 structural piles around the site. Last week, crews started standing up rebar panels and pouring concrete for the first series of 35-foot-tall foundation walls.

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The city says Calgarians will see some progress as Scotia Place starts to take shape throughout the year.

Foundation work will continue, followed by underground columns, stairs, elevator course and access ramps.

Crews will also be working on underground mechanical, electrical and plumbing connections.

The U.S. tariff situation continues to loom over the project, as some items like seats and video boards will have to come from south of the border.

Officials say they are taking a Canada-first approach with as much of the material as possible, including local contracts for excavation and concrete.

“As an example with the steel, part of it (is) procured in Europe and then it’s shipped to Hamilton and that’s where it’s being fabricated and manufactured,” Bob Hunter, of the Scotia Place Project Team, said Monday.

“So, any opportunity to avoid, even some of the suppliers having to avoid going through the U.S., through their U.S.-based companies, is something that we look at.”

Hunter says the next milestone – building back to ground level – should be complete by the end of summer.

When complete, the event and ice surface will be located 35 feet below ground, allowing fans and patrons to walk right onto the ground-floor concourse.

The project is on track to meet its original goal of a fall 2027 opening.