Winning Design Picked For Banff's Major Downtown Visitor Centre Redevelopment

Parks Canada has selected the winning design concept for a major redevelopment of the 200-block of Banff Avenue, advancing plans for a reimagined visitor centre and public gathering space in the heart of downtown Banff.

The winning proposal was submitted by Toronto-based Paul Raff Studio and Japanese architecture firm Kengo Kuma & Associates after an international design competition that drew six shortlisted teams from around the world. The selection brings one of the world’s most recognizable architecture firms into the centre of Banff’s ongoing conversation around tourism, growth, and public space.

Kengo Kuma & Associates is internationally known for projects that blend architecture into natural landscapes through the use of wood, light, and organic materials, with major projects spanning Japan, Europe, and North America.

An independent jury assembled by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) unanimously selected the concept following months of technical review, Indigenous consultation, and public feedback. Jurors said the design stood out for its sustainability strategy, emphasis on outdoor public space, and ability to balance modern visitor needs with Banff’s natural and cultural identity.

“The jury’s decision was unanimous and confident,” RAIC CEO Mike Brennan said in a statement. “The winning design was selected not only for its design excellence, but for its flexibility and resilience.”

Jurors specifically highlighted the proposal’s strong sustainability approach and its focus on connecting indoor and outdoor spaces, describing nature and landscape as central components of the overall visitor experience rather than secondary features.

The redevelopment has been under discussion in various forms for more than two decades, making it one of the most significant public-space planning efforts in downtown Banff in recent memory. Over the years, Parks Canada has explored ways to modernize the area while preserving the national park’s heritage character and improving how millions of visitors experience the townsite.

The existing visitor information centre has long faced criticism for being outdated and undersized relative to Banff’s tourism volumes, particularly during peak summer months when the national park receives more than four million visitors annually.

In 2022, Parks Canada received federal funding to begin detailed site studies and public engagement tied to the future of the corridor. The agency said feedback from Indigenous communities, stakeholders, and residents consistently identified the redevelopment as a rare opportunity to modernize downtown public space while strengthening connections between people and the surrounding landscape.

Public and Indigenous feedback was gathered throughout the competition and considered alongside technical reviews before the jury reached its final recommendation, according to Parks Canada.

“The future visitors centre will be a vibrant community space in the heart of Banff,” Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin said in a statement. “It reflects shared values of conservation, stewardship, and inclusivity.”

Parks Canada emphasized the selected proposal is still conceptual and does not represent a finalized construction design. The agency said the project will continue evolving through additional consultation, environmental review, and technical refinement before any final plans are approved.