In the heart of Calgary’s Culture + Entertainment District, Pixel Park transforms a parking lot into a bold, video game-inspired temporary park, bridging imagination and infrastructure. As the northwest gateway to the up-and-coming Rivers District, the space creates a welcoming, playful ambiance as it supports the city’s long-term vision for a connected downtown culture.

The park draws on its namesake with pixelated graphics, dynamic signage, colourful surface treatments, and a Player Hub of activities built from a retrofitted shipping container. Custom street furniture and modular elements reinforce the park’s identity while allowing for sustainable flexibility.Zones for skateboarding, sports, dogs and gathering are clearly defined through creative ground markings, fencing and CPTED-driven design strategies, keeping the area inclusive, safe, and simple to navigate.

Thoughtful amenities, climate-conscious materials, and all-ages accessibility — including a skate park with features designed for wheelchair users and visually impaired skaters — underscore the site’s commitment to equity.

From storm-rated surface finishes to locally sourced modular pieces, we fine-tuned every structural detail to withstand Calgary’s natural elements and evolve with its future.

But beyond form and function, the park addresses downtown open space needs, boosts community programming, and levels up economic development opportunities — hosting 67 events, 19 partner groups, and 50,000+ visitors in its first year alone. Where some saw asphalt, we were game for more.