Calgary’s 2025 Winter City Design competition winners announced

CALGARY, ALTA. — This year’s Winter City Design Competition winners give new meaning to creating a winter wonderland.

The City of Calgary, in partnership with Chinook Blast, have announced Serenity Passage and Dot Spot as taking home the top spots.

These designs were selected from more than three dozen submissions for their creativity, community engagement and ability to redefine winter as an exciting experience rather than just a season.

Both installations will be on display at separate locations.

From now until April 15 Serenity Passage can be seen a Century Gardens at 826 8 Avenue SW.

Serenity Passage is a temporary art installation featuring over 200 blown glass rondels created in collaboration with glass artists from Calgary and surrounding areas, states a release.

These rondels are arranged within an illuminated archway forming a seven-foot-tall, five-foot-wide passage that’s accessible to individuals of all mobility levels.

“The Winter City Design Competition is all about unlocking creativity and highlighting the transformative power of dynamic public spaces in the winter months,” says Leah Petrucci, lead designer of Serenity Passage, in a statement. “Through the creation of Serenity Passage, I look forward to showing Calgarians the beauty of glass blowing and hope to create conversation, evoke thought and provide a chance for people to connect with their city – and one another – in a completely different way.”

Dot spot will be on display at the beginning of February until April 15 at Bow River Pathway, near 6 Street SW.
The Dot Spot Pavilion is an interactive public art installation that’s inspired by the snow sled or flying saucer. Rooted in childhood memories of tobogganing, the sled is repurposed as the main architectural material.

The pavilion uses rotating circular sled elements, making it a tactile, eye-catching centerpiece, the release reads.

Joshua Clarke, one of the designers behind Dot Spot, states, “Our team at HEREBY is passionate about how design can bring people together and enrich public space, especially during the winter season. We’re excited to unveil Dot Spot and offer a new destination to the downtown that encourages people to stay, connect, and celebrate winter together.”

Launched in 2021, the Winter City Design Competition encourages artists, architects, and designers to reimagine Calgary’s outdoor spaces for winter.
For more visit  Calgary.ca/wintercity.