Stantec will be the City of Saskatoon’s Technical Advisor for the Downtown Event and Entertainment District. The engineering consultant firm is partnering with HOK and LMN, who have worked on similar projects, including Rogers Place and Edmonton’s ICE District.

Dan Willems, Director of Technical Services with the City, says, “When it comes to developing event centres and convention centres, our technical advisors bring international expertise to the project. This, combined with the ability to leverage Saskatoon-specific knowledge through City Council, the District Advisory Group, and local stakeholders and rightsholders, gives us confidence we will have a successful project.”

A draft of the Vision and Guiding Principles for the District Plan will be presented as an information report at the Governance and Priorities Committee meeting next Tuesday. The goal of the plan, according to a news release from the city, is to repurpose Downtown Saskatoon into and entertainment and cultural hub. It combines the new event eventer, a new or updated convention centre and a plan for a larger area, including enhanced public spaces that will be accessible through the Bus Rapid Transit system.

The main principles being proposed for the District, including:
• A distinctive identity through placemaking/placekeeping
• Architectural and public realm design excellence
• Reconciliation by honouring Indigenous histories, languages and culture
• Reliable and efficient transportation options
• Downtown density with a focus on housing
• Leadership in sustainability and resiliency
• A robust and diverse economy
• A healthy and safe community

The report is included in the agenda to the City’s Governance and Priorities Committee meeting, which you can access by clicking here.