Eau Claire Plaza Site Redevelopment
Civil engineering supporting a renewed riverfront destination for gathering, play and events.
Client: DIALOG
Location: Calgary, AB
Project Type: Community Development
About This Project
Eau Claire Plaza’s redevelopment brings gathering, recreation and event spaces together within Calgary’s downtown riverfront. The renewed public realm includes a central green, promenade, play areas, water feature, beach and canopy, supporting both everyday activities and larger community events. Working with DIALOG for the City of Calgary, ISL provided civil engineering services to support the broader team’s public-space vision.
ISL’s contribution included underground servicing, grading, stormwater management and construction administration. These systems needed to work alongside landscape features and public amenities while accommodating existing utilities, neighbouring properties and connections to surrounding riverfront projects.
Flood resilience presented a significant challenge. The design called for raising the plaza approximately 0.75 metres above existing grades to sit above the Bow River’s 1:100-year flood elevation. The neighbouring floodwall, however, restricted emergency runoff toward the river. ISL developed grading and drainage solutions that directed emergency surface flows south toward public roadways while addressing transitions to adjacent properties.
Stormwater management also needed to support how people would use the plaza. ISL used hydraulic modelling, controlled outlets and shallow storage areas to manage runoff within downstream sewer limits. The design sought to keep required ponding away from regularly used public spaces and identified underdrainage needs where programming required faster water clearance. Utility coordination also considered hydrant locations to provide flexibility for plaza activities.
A congested underground corridor required separate east and west stormwater networks and coordination with existing services. ISL also worked through interfaces with the Eau Claire Promenade and Jaipur Bridge replacement, helping integrate the plaza with surrounding infrastructure.
The main plaza achieved substantial performance in June 2025, with additional greenspace and temporary-washroom work continuing into 2026. The project demonstrates how coordinated civil engineering supports the gathering spaces, recreational amenities and connections that bring a public place to life.
Key Features
- Civil engineering supporting riverfront gathering, recreation and event spaces
- Flood-conscious grading coordinated with neighbouring properties and flood protection
- Stormwater design balancing drainage requirements with public-space programming
- Underground servicing coordinated around utilities, landscape features and amenities
- Connections coordinated with the Eau Claire Promenade and Jaipur Bridge projects
- Civil design and construction support for additional greenspace and temporary washrooms
