Sam Centre

The Sam Centre is a year-round cultural facility that brings the world of the Calgary Stampede—past, present, and future—to life through immersive exhibitions, technology, and Western hospitality. Occupying 30,000 sq. ft. on a single level, the building provides a flexible platform for multimedia showcases, public programs, and exhibitions, supported by specialized artifact and archival collection spaces.

Mass timber plays a defining role in both structure and character, connecting the project to the Stampede’s heritage and the agricultural traditions of Alberta. The linear volume is organized beneath a broad pitched roof, supported by a hybrid steel frame with exposed mass timber beams and a Nail Laminated Timber roof deck. The form is a contemporary reinterpretation of prairie barns—simple, durable structures that once anchored rural communities. Deep overhanging soffits, clad in Douglas fir, extend the building’s reach into the plaza, reducing energy loads while recalling the generous verandahs of local farmhouses, long valued as welcoming thresholds and shaded outdoor gathering places. A raised clerestory punctuates the roofline, drawing daylight into the building by day and glowing as a lantern at night.

Inside, Douglas fir acoustic ceilings, soffits, and a white oak raised access floor complement the timber structure with durable finishes that enhance warmth and resilience. Exterior benches, a café, and landscaped edges extend activity outward, linking Sam Centre to Enbridge Plaza, Youth Campus buildings, and the adjacent Rundle Ruins.

By merging mass timber construction with vernacular forms, Sam Centre creates a civic landmark rooted in place, ensuring the spirit of the Stampede can be celebrated year-round