On Airdrie's southwest side, Cooper's Crossing stands as an example of what a great master-planned community can look like. It was named after the Cooper family, who farmed the land for more than 100 years. The 320-acre development features 44 acres of parkland, two six-acre ponds and Discovery Park – a multi-generational gathering space with a fire pit, toboggan hill, secret forest, play structures, half-basketball court, gazebo and picnic area.

"Buzzwords like placemaking, walkability or 'live, work, play' communities are popular today, but we had a firm grasp on the importance of these concepts 20 years ago when we first started designing Cooper's Crossing," said Paul Gerla, owner and manager of WestMark Holdings Ltd, the Airdrie-based developer behind Cooper's Crossing.

Kipp McGonigal and his family built their forever home at Cooper's Crossing

With a background in cabinetmaking and a flair for design, it's no wonder that Kipp McGonigal is passionate about architecture. So, when it came time to build his family's dream home, he turned to McKee Homes, an Airdrie-based design/build firm he had worked with previously to great success.

With four kids ages eight through 11 and a pet bunny, the McGonigals wanted to create a family-friendly space in a family-friendly neighbourhood. It also needed to be a home that could take McGonigal and his wife through their retirement years. They found the perfect lot, located on a park in the Airdrie community of Cooper's Crossing, and set their long-awaited plan into motion.