CALGARY, ALBERTA 2005

Project: New Community, TND
T-six Role: Master Plan
Client: Ollerenshaw Enterprises Ltd.
Uses: Residential, Live-Work, Mixed Use, Civic

The Ollerenshaw Ranch Visioning Study provides a comprehensive and integrated vision for a 16.9 acre joint use site within the community of Mahogany in southeast Calgary. The site consists of four parcels: the 4 acre historic Ollerenshaw Ranch site, a 3 acre community centre site, a 3.11 acre daycare/senior’s residence site, and a 6.8 acre elementary school site.  The approved Mahogany Community Plan (July 2006) outlines that the existing Ollerenshaw Ranch is to be retained and incorporated into the design of the community in recognition of its heritage status and social importance. In 2008, T-Six was engaged to facilitate and develop a physical and programattic vision for the site that serves as the basis for the Ranch’s future business plan.  T-Six facilitated two interactive design sessions, and developed a site plan and design concept for the 16.9 acre site. 

This unique opportunity allowed T-Six to work on the more rural end of the spectrum, and at the scale of the block and building.   While respecting property line divisions, the plan engages a rational, rectilinear building layout common to prairie ranches.  As a community gathering space, this layout shapes a range of high quality public spaces including formal and informal gardens, greens, and a market plaza. The site is also intended to provide education and demonstration both traditional and technological sustainability techniques, aiming to eventually achieve “off the grid” operation.  Site programming includes a community centre, multi-purpose building, senior’s residence, daycare, elementary school, interactive animal display & barn facility, community garden plots, forest garden & amphitheater, restaurant/café, multi-use lawn and plaza, greenhouses, farmer’s market, wine market and retail greenhouse, and community gathering spaces.