+us: Adaptive Reuse Architecture for Urban Activation in Calgary

Calgary’s downtown is often viewed through the lens of its corporate identity—tall towers, petroleum legacy, and weekday crowds. But once the business day ends, this core transforms into a ghost town. This void isn’t caused by a lack of infrastructure but rather a lack of activation. The Plus-15 Network—an elevated 14-kilometer-long walkway system connecting buildings downtown—was once celebrated as a climate-friendly pedestrian solution. Today, however, it inadvertently siphons vitality from the streets below, contributing to a stark and vacant cityscape after office hours.

This is where +us, a community-focused design proposal by Alea Reid and Isabelle Jackson, intervenes. As a People's Choice Award entry of Urbanscape: Symbiosis, the project repurposes the overlooked interstitial spaces beneath the Plus-15 bridges into interactive, human-scale public installations. The project is a prime example of adaptive reuse architecture, using existing infrastructure to reinvigorate underutilized urban zones.

The proposal addresses Calgary’s 26.5% downtown office vacancy rate not by constructing anew, but by transforming what already exists. Using lightweight, locally sourced, and recyclable materials, +us deploys modular furniture elements beneath the Plus-15 pathways. These include vibrant hanging chairs that double as tables, plant walls for community gardening, kinetic installations for children, and sculptural bike racks—each installation adding a layer of function and joy.

From an architectural standpoint, the strength of +us lies in its materiality and construction logic. Acrylic panels refract color onto the concrete surroundings, while dyed rope and macramé knots unify the visual and structural language. The modular components are scalable and flexible—each tied to the Plus-15 system without permanently altering it. This gives +us the potential to be rolled out across all 83 bridges, fostering a city-wide network of activated micro-spaces.

Socially, the collection invites interaction—not just with the urban environment but among citizens themselves. Where once there was disconnection, now there is potential for shared experiences. Residents can sit, swing, rest, or even plant a flower. These micro-interventions offer tactile and spatial engagement, redefining how pedestrians navigate and inhabit Calgary’s downtown.

+us is more than a series of playful interventions. It is a strategic architectural response to urban stagnation—reviving Calgary's downtown through adaptive reuse architecture that centers people, community, and interaction. In doing so, it demonstrates how overlooked infrastructure can become the backbone of urban vibrancy.

Project by: Alea Reid, Isabelle Jackson

Recognition: People's Choice Award, Urbanscape: Symbiosis