Located between the newly renovated Stanley A. Milner Library and the Westin Hotel in downtown Edmonton, Alberta, Centennial Plaza is a prominent fixture in Edmonton’s Civil Precinct that provides space to host community gatherings and events. The City of Edmonton has adopted a vision to infuse more sustainable and child-friendly opportunities into the City’s Civic Precinct, encompassing City Hall, Stanley A. Milner Library, Sir Winston Churchill Square, and Centennial Plaza. The concept was developed to revitalize Centennial Plaza as a modern child-friendly destination that would attract and engage new visitors to the Precinct.
Working closely alongside the Marc Boutin Architectural Collaborative (MBAC), Williams Engineering was engaged to provide the creative electrical and mechanical engineering consulting services required to make this project a public success. The concept for a “Sensory Garden” was developed and brought to life by the project team which provides visitors with a unique experience each time they return. The garden inspires the senses of sight, touch, sound and smell while encouraging child-directed play in a safe and secure space. Particular attention was paid to the lighting details and design for this project, including many features inspired by nature. LED lights are installed at various levels to ensure safe visibility and are designed to attract visitors in all seasons of the year, adding a sense of warmth in the colder months. In addition to the intricate plaza lighting design, WE’s electrical engineering team completed power distribution and security systems designs. WE’s mechanical engineering group designed Plaza drainage, plumbing and natural gas distribution, ensuring the most sustainable design possible was reached.
