Campus chronicles: Five updates from University District

University District is a major development on 200 acres of land in northwest Calgary by West Campus Development Trust.

It will eventually be home to 7,100 residential units, 300,000 square feet of retail, 1.5 million square feet of office space, and 40 acres of parkland and open space.

Here are five new things happening in University District:

Central Park

Construction has begun on Central Park, a three-acre area that will become the heart of the community for social events and activities.

The park will have a refrigerated winter skating rink, concert area, picnic tables with barbecue pits, patio space and plaza, water fountain, and underground parking.
Its size will be comparable to the Downtown West End's Shaw Millennium Park.

Argyle by Avi Urban

The latest residential development in University District has now opened a show suite in the University District Discovery Centre.

Argyle by Avi Urban offers a choice of customizable one-, two- and three-bedroom suites, as well as a two-bedroom-plus-den option, sized from 500 to 1,150 square feet. They are priced from the $280,000s.

The ground level of Argyle will include a selection of retail stores and services.

New retail

Staples, Pet Planet and Clever Daycare were recently announced, joining a lineup that already included Save-On-Foods, Cineplex VIP Cinemas, Five Guys, Freshii, Analog Coffee, Market Wines, Orange Theory, Curious Hair Skin Body, Denim & Smith, Scotiabank, YYC Cycle, OEB Breakfast, Press'd Sandwich Shop, UC Noodles & BBQ and University Dental.

Groupe Germain Hotels is also starting construction on a 15-storey, 156-room boutique hotel with café and restaurant.

New residents

Roughly 200 residential units in University District are already occupied, with more people expected to move into the community as soon as construction wraps up on several projects.

There are already new residents who call Brookfield's Ivy project home. Others will begin moving into Truman's Maple building in January 2020 and Gracorp Capital's purpose-built-rental development, Rhapsody, in summer 2020.

Northwestival

University District welcomes the public to experience the community at Northwestival on Sunday, Dec. 8, from 1 to 6 p.m. in the Northwest Commons Park. Admission is by a donation of peanut or other nut butter to support I Can for Kids, which aims to end summer childhood hunger in Calgary.

The event will include live music, roaming performers, winter workshops, axe throwing, fire pits, hot drinks, food trucks and more.