Calgary’s $34.2M Walden Fire Station and Library Breaks Ground

The City of Calgary broke ground on the $34.2-million Walden Fire Station and Library at 969 Walden Drive S.E. in Calgary, Alberta, on October 21, 2026. The combined building will contain an approximately 15,000-square-foot fire station and an approximately 11,000-square-foot public library, with opening expected in the first quarter of 2028.

In its October 26, 2026 report, Culture Alberta describes the project as Calgary’s first fire station and public library under one roof. Construction will take place beside an operating modular fire station, making emergency access and the eventual transition between facilities important sequencing considerations.

Key Project Facts

Project type: Combined permanent fire station and public library.
Location: 969 Walden Drive S.E., Calgary, Alberta.
Size: Approximately 15,000 square feet for the fire station and 11,000 square feet for the library.
Fire station scope: Two apparatus bays.
Estimated project value: $34.2 million.
Owner: City of Calgary.
Funding: Province of Alberta contribution of $4.1 million.
Stage: Ground broken October 21, 2026.
Timeline: Construction scheduled from late 2026 to early 2028; opening anticipated in the first quarter of 2028.

Two Apparatus Bays and an 11,000-Square-Foot Library

The permanent fire station will provide approximately 15,000 square feet of space with two apparatus bays. The second bay provides capacity for another emergency vehicle, potentially a ladder truck or specialized unit.

The Calgary Public Library branch will occupy approximately 11,000 square feet in the same building. Its planned functions include:

Collections of books and other physical materials.
Public computers, printing and internet access.
Meeting and study rooms.
Space for in-person programs.

For contractors, the combination brings two distinct operating uses into one construction project: emergency response facilities and public-facing library space. Coordination of building services, interior layouts and access will need to account for both uses rather than treating the facility as a single-purpose civic building.

Construction Beside an Operating Fire Station

The existing modular fire station has operated since 2020 and will remain open throughout construction. The permanent building is being constructed immediately beside it.

Maintaining emergency vehicle access is therefore a central site-logistics consideration. Deliveries, equipment movement and construction access will need to be coordinated around an active response facility.

The reported construction arrangements include temporary fencing beside the current station and a short pathway closure on the west side of the Walden Common S.E. turnaround. The bike path will remain open.

These access conditions make separation between construction activity, emergency operations and public routes important for site planning. Contractors should account for those interfaces when assessing delivery routes, staging and work-area boundaries.

Once the permanent station opens, the modular building will be dismantled and its footprint converted to parking. The modular structure is intended to be stored and reused for a future temporary station rather than scrapped.

That sequence creates a distinct post-transition phase: the existing station must remain operational until the new facility opens, after which removal and parking conversion can proceed. The dismantling work also needs to preserve the modular building for reuse.

Opening Targeted for January–March 2028

The City of Calgary expects the combined facility to open in the first quarter of 2028, between January and March. The opening remains an estimate that could change during construction.

The reported project schedule follows these milestones:

2023: Rezoning and master planning.
Late 2023 to mid-2026: Design.
October 21, 2026: Groundbreaking.
Late 2026 to early 2028: Construction.
Early 2028: Anticipated opening.

For suppliers and later-stage subcontractors, the construction window is the relevant period for tracking fit-out and building-services requirements. The operational move into the permanent station also establishes the dependency for dismantling the temporary facility and completing the parking conversion.

Construction Trades Involved

With ground broken, the project has entered its early site-construction phase; early site and structural packages should be treated as underway rather than prospective opportunities.

Later-stage work could involve the following trades, with potential availability subject to procurement and award status:

Mechanical systems.
HVAC.
Plumbing.
Electrical.
Fire protection.
Roofing.
Glazing.
Insulation.
Drywall.
Flooring.
Painting.
Doors and hardware.

The shared building’s fire station and library functions are relevant to scope review, particularly where services and interior work meet different operating requirements. These trade categories describe potential later-stage involvement, not confirmed open bid packages.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Walden Fire Station and Library being built?

The project is located at 969 Walden Drive S.E. in Calgary, Alberta, beside the existing temporary fire station.

When is the facility expected to open?

The City of Calgary anticipates opening in the first quarter of 2028, between January and March. Construction is scheduled from late 2026 to early 2028.

Will the temporary fire station remain operational during construction?

Yes. The temporary station will continue operating throughout construction. After the permanent station opens, the modular building will be dismantled for storage and reuse, and its footprint will become parking.

For contractors and suppliers, Walden is a $34.2-million civic construction project with two building uses and an active emergency-service operation beside the worksite. Later-stage scope review should consider both the combined facility and the transition sequence that precedes final parking work.

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