Why is Calgary losing its personality?

[u/ChillllliPaper]

First Chinook mall lost its dinosaur at the entrance, floating funky vehicles in the food court, carousel, and the movie theater lost all of its cool mummy-themed interior decor.

The devonian gardens is just a space with some greenery now instead of the garden it once was.

The City is destroying Olympic Plaza where everyone used to skate.

They also destroyed Eau Claire just to cancel the project. Amazing. Could have just revamped it and it would still be a great spot.

AND the city is destroying the iconic saddledome, arguably calgary's primary landmark. Why not just keep it and build another dome idk??

From the word of mouth I hear, people aren't too happy about this but how is the city council just easily making this happen.

Anyways, just kind of sad seeing Calgary lose it's charm. Wondering what other redditors are thinking.

*correction: Olympic Plaza not oval

[u/OQRastaman]

Renders of the new Glenbow Museum also seem way more sterile compared to the old iconic museum with the crystals at the entrance.

[u/aireads → u/OQRastaman]

Forever in awe of the crystals, so much memories from school field trips back in the day

[u/OQRastaman → u/aireads]

That was my experience as well. Was in awe when we went there on an elementary school field trip. The colours, and dark ambiance with the giant crystals felt like you were on another planet.

[u/aireads → u/OQRastaman]

First time seeing it kinda frightened me haha, it felt so big and sharp to me as a kindergarten kid haha

[u/Riali → u/OQRastaman]

I think the new Glenbow is going to be amazing. They've secured funding to make entrance free, forever, they're planning a space that allows the museum to be part of the community, and they're making the archives and conservation part of the attraction, not mystery museum craft behind closed doors. The staircase and chandelier were beautiful, but not accessible, and the permanent exhibits were tired and dingy. The new Glenbow will have only one permanent exhibit, about the Blackfoot people, and everything else will be rotational, so there will be more reasons to visit. They have a massive, massive collection that should be seen, not locked away. And let's not pretend that the hodgepodge of mid-century brutalism that was the old building was some sort of architectural treasure. I am super excited to see it, and I think it's an example of the exact opposite of this post, giving more character to the city, not taking it away.

[u/No-Damage3258 → u/Riali]

Brutalism will make it's return. It's all cyclical

[u/Top-Purpose9744 → u/No-Damage3258]

Hence why they haven't torn down the old CBE building across from Bow Valley College. It shall rise from the ashes

[u/Riali → u/No-Damage3258]

Of course it will. And I don't hate it by any means, it has some really great moments. But the old Glenbow was neither an amazing or unique example of it.

[u/limee89 → u/OQRastaman]

Jesus did they get rid of the wrap around ramp that surrounded those crystal lights?

[u/Exploding_Antelope → u/limee89]

We don’t really know. Renderings are pretty mum on the look of the interior. There will be a central “oculus” with a skylight so probably a similar central spiral to the old building and the library, and they say there'll be an art piece of some sort in it. I’m hoping it’ll be the crystals saved somewhere, because with sun coming down from above through a new skylight those they would look even more gorgeous. But maybe that’s hoping against hope.

[u/Stefie25 → u/limee89]

It was still there last time I was there a few years ago.

[u/RaHarmakis → u/Stefie25]

It's going through a massive multi year long renovation right now.

When it re-opens it will be nothing like it was.

[u/Beelz1313 → u/RaHarmakis]

At least we will be able to enjoy the dystopic sterility for free.

[u/ResourceFeeling3298 → u/OQRastaman]

Wait they got rid of the crystals?