National Music Center of Canada
After winning the international competition in 2009, Allied Works Architecture was selected to design the National Music Center of Canada (NMC). The NMC is an entirely new cultural institution dedicated to the music of Canada in all of its forms. It comprises of programs of museum, performance hall, interactive music education center, recording studio and broadcast center. Located opposite the stampede grounds in Calgary’s east village, this scheme seeks to catalyze the future redevelopment of the historic district.
courtesy of Allied Works Architecture
Nine towers form the body of the building; the vessel walls, clad in terra cotta, rise in subtle curves that merge, part and intertwine, modeled by light, gravity and acoustics.
Entering from the street, the building is filled with the reverberation of voices and music, drawing visitors up into five floors of performance, education and collections spaces. The apertures at each gallery create a threshold of sound, introducing the content and programs of the particular exhibition.
courtesy of Allied Works Architecture
The spaces between are filled with silence and ambient light that leads to views between the towers frame the city and landscape beyond. This was possible because of the custom glazed terracotta and the supporting concrete structure. Bridging across the street and back again, the building creates a gateway for the new quarter, uniting the artists’ residences, recording studios, the historic hotel and club with the new presentation spaces. This building is currently a targeted LEED Gold project.
courtesy of Allied Works Architecture
By:Delia Chang
