Once the Eau Claire YMCA, Calgary’s new athletic club opens this month

Inside Calgary's Eau Claire Athletic Club. (ECAC handout)

The space once occupied by Calgary’s Eau Claire YMCA is now home to a different fitness facility – and this one has a Nordic spa.

The iconic building, located in the 100 block of Third Street S.W., was vacated in 2021 when the YMCA said it was no longer financially viable to keep the location open.

Now, it’s home to the brand-new members-only Eau Claire Athletic Club.

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Chief operating officer Alix Williams says while the original structure has been transformed, they tried to preserve certain features like the four-storey floating staircase, the skylight, the six-lane lap pool, squash courts and the running track.

“We’re honouring that legacy while ushering in a bold new chapter—one defined by purpose, care and an unparalleled range of fitness, wellbeing and social club amenities unlike anything Calgary has seen before,” she said.

One of the new additions is an expansive Nordic spa, which has saunas, hot and cold pools, light therapy and a dry float tank.

The club also has four golf simulators (with golf club storage) and two racing simulators.

Cardio and weight facilities are spread out over two floors, and there are studios for spin, yoga and Pilates, in addition to indoor pickleball courts.

Members will also get access to a heated rooftop wellness patio, as well as a rooftop fitness patio overlooking Eau Claire Plaza.

The club has on-site child-care services, a coffee shop (Brooklynn’s Café) and a dining area (The Exchange).

“From urban professionals to young families, our members are seeking more than amenities; they’re looking for meaningful spaces to connect, recharge and thrive,” said Williams. “We wanted to create a place where wellness isn’t just about working out, it’s about how people connect, recharge and feel at home in the city.”

“It’s not a gym. It’s a club, and there’s a difference.”

Mark Garner, executive director of the Calgary Downtown Association, says projects like the Eau Claire Athletic Club “raise the bar” for recreation, wellness and lifestyle in downtown Calgary.

“It’s the kind of space that inspires pride — not just from its members, but from the entire downtown community as a new hub of urban vitality in Calgary,” he said.

According to the club’s website, the ‘initiation fee’ for an individual membership is $15,000 for a non-equity member and $35,000 for an equity member.

Annual dues for primary members are $2,400.