Taza building brighter economic future on Tsuut'ina Nation

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The recent opening of Costco’s 150,000-square-foot location heralded the first commercial building of three related development villages on Tsuut’ina lands by Taza Development.

Taza Park, Taza Crossing and Taza Exchange are physically connected via Tsuu’tina Trail, part of Calgary’s southwest ring road, a critical piece of transportation infrastructure for the city and southern Alberta. Each village expresses a distinct character built around a guiding philosophy and design principles that have been created for every component of the development — textual elements, streetscapes, wayfinding, natural areas, and formal and informal public park spaces.

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And, most importantly, says Bryce Starlight, vice-president of development for Taza, “It will create a unique sense of place, drawing on Tsuut’ina history, culture and stories.”

Starlight was born on the First Nation and graduated from Bishop Grandin High School before going to Mount Royal University and then to the University of Calgary to earn his political science degree.

After graduation, he was involved in the energy industry, but being involved in the development of his Nation — which was established in 1877, predating the incorporation of Calgary in 1894 — has aroused a passion that he has put his heart and soul into.

A development partnership between Tsuu’tina and Canderel, Taza Development strives to enact a visionary standard of development that honours the land and fuels true economic inclusion.

The master planning for the entire 1,200 acres was undertaken by Zeidler Architecture. Partner in charge Bill Mitchell says the Calgary office had been working on the Eagle Landing site around the Grey Eagle Resort and Casino, and while he and Zeidler partner James Brown walked the Taza Exchange site with Starlight and Dan Van Leeuwen, the managing director of development at Taza Development, they caught the enthusiasm and potential for its future.

Since then they have been responsible as lead of the overall plan — along with Gensler and Design Workshop — for the entire site. Mitchell says he was awed at the natural landscape and became excited at the challenge of connecting the low-impact development with the land and to the cultural influences, while aware of the Nation’s need to establish a robust economy.

Taza Park is a 530-acre section just south of the casino off 37^th Street S.W. that, in interfacing with the Lakeview community, will be quite sympathetic to the type of mixed-use, retail-commercial being leased by CBRE, and the residential areas. On the western edge that runs alongside Stoney Trail, the expectation is for big box and automotive dealerships.

Taza Crossing, west of 90^th Avenue and Oakridge where transportation connections are already in place, is intended to be a hub of health, wellness and innovation, with a mix of commercial, research and residential.

Taza Exchange, where the Costco has opened in The Shops at Buffalo Run, has long been the home of the Tsuu’tina administration building and has welcomed the Seven Chiefs Sportsplex. Leased through Avison Young, it is touted to be a regional shopping, office and tourism district, with dining, recreational offerings and a cultural corridor incorporating the history, arts and language of the Tsuu’tina.

Sustainability and environmental concerns are foremost in the design of the massive project, says Starlight. “As an example, we are developing a meandering flow of wetlands instead of using a traditional stormwater pond.”

Another good example is the dramatic circular water reservoir that will not only manage all of the water requirements for the development but has been designed with an exterior wall of solar panels that will catch the sun’s rays and supply the electricity to power the reservoir facility.

The Taza development is the result of an exciting partnership that will do much to connect the Nation with its city neighbours and provide a new avenue for socio-economic prosperity.

Notes:

Calgary-based Kevin Gregor, managing partner of Boyden Canada, has announced the opening of an Edmonton office led by new partner Lindsay Osmond, adding to Boyden’s more than 65 offices in over 40 countries. “The world is shaking us up and my new position gives me the opportunity to think differently about connecting the next generation of great leaders to companies of the future,” says Osmond.

David Parker appears regularly in the Herald. Read his columns online at calgaryherald.com/business. He can be reached at 403-830-4622 or by email at info@davidparker.ca.