Devonian Gardens (Calgary)

Devonian Gardens

Waterfall in Devonian Gardens
Location in Calgary
Type Urban park
Location Downtown Calgary
Area 2.5 acres (10,000 m2)
Created 1977 (1977)
Operated by City of Calgary
Status Under renovation
Website Devonian Gardens

Devonian Gardens is a large indoor park and botanical garden located in the downtown core of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The park is currently closed for a major $23.5-million renovation[1] (as of August 30, 2008) and is expected to re-open in Summer 2012.

Located on the Stephen Avenue pedestrian mall (8 Avenue SW) between 2 Street SW and 3 Street SW, the park is completely enclosed with glass and covers 2.5 acres (10,000 m2) (one full city block) on the top floor of The Core Shopping Centre (formerly TD Square). It is maintained by The City of Calgary Parks.

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History

Opening in 1977, Devonian Gardens was designed by J.H. Cook Architects and Engineers and donated to the City of Calgary by the Devonian Group of Charitable Foundations and Calford Properties. The construction cost was 9 million dollars.

The original gardens contained more than 20,000 plants[2] representing 135 tropical and local species, decorated with waterfalls, bridges, koi ponds and sculptures by local artists, showcased as a permanent art exhibition.

A major redevelopment of The Core Shopping Centre (formerly TD Square) beneath the park began in 2008, and required the gardens to close for renovations. The changes include a wider, taller circulation space in the mall below and installation of a 3-block long, continuous skylight above. The park is undergoing a complete overhaul to coincide with these renovations. While reopening was anticipated to be late Fall 2011, it is now expected to reopen in Summer 2012. Minor construction delays have resulted in a lost window of opportunity to safely bring in tropical plants to the new Gardens. A number of exotic and fragile plants can only be shipped during certain times of the year as the plants must be craned up into the 4th storey Gardens from the outside. The cold temperatures and unpredictable weather patterns in Calgary in late fall require The City to delay the shipment of these plants to the spring so that the risk of loss is minimized.

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