London-based Alison Brooks Architects has been selected as one of six finalists in a prestigious international design competition to reimagine a major urban block in the heart of Canada's iconic Banff National Park. The firm, led by Canadian-born architect Alison Brooks, will compete alongside five other distinguished teams to design a new visitor center and community hub that will serve as a gateway to one of the world's most visited national parks.

The 200-Block Banff Avenue Redevelopment competition, organized by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) with backing from Parks Canada, attracted 44 multidisciplinary teams from around the world. The other five finalists include EVOQ + Ryder, Kengo Kuma + Associates + Paul Raff Studio, KPMB Architects, Revery Architecture, and Stantec Architecture. These teams will now develop detailed conceptual design proposals for submission to Parks Canada.

The competition focuses on transforming a large downtown site known as the 200-Block, which consists of 10 contiguous lots along Banff Avenue. Parks Canada has spent the past 25 years carefully assembling this prime real estate, which currently houses an information center, retail spaces, and surface parking lots. The redevelopment aims to create a modern landmark that will serve as a new gateway to the park while better accommodating the millions of annual visitors.

Banff National Park, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, welcomes more than four million visitors each year who come to experience its dramatic mountain landscapes and historic townscape. The park's popularity has created significant challenges in balancing conservation efforts with visitor needs and community development. The new visitor center project represents an innovative approach to addressing these competing demands.

The competition guidelines emphasize several key objectives that reflect the complex needs of this unique location. Teams must modernize visitor facilities and open spaces in downtown Banff while encouraging meaningful connections between visitors and the national park's natural wonders. The designs should foster a welcoming and vibrant community atmosphere that benefits both tourists and local residents.

One of the most significant challenges facing the development is addressing housing needs for eligible local residents. The competition specifically encourages proposals that explore options for providing accommodation solutions, recognizing that housing shortages have become a critical issue in this popular tourist destination. The project aims to demonstrate how protected areas can successfully balance conservation priorities with community needs and visitor experiences.

The redevelopment is expected to feature new purpose-built visitor spaces and recreational facilities that will encourage deeper connections to the surrounding Banff National Park. Competition organizers are seeking proposals that make a lasting contribution to both the visitor experience and the town's distinctive identity. The new facilities must be capable of handling the park's massive influx of tourists while maintaining the area's natural beauty and cultural significance.

The ambitious project represents a new model for how national parks can manage development within protected areas. By creating a centralized hub for visitor services, the redevelopment aims to reduce environmental impact while improving the overall experience for the millions of people who visit Banff each year. The design must respect the park's heritage status while incorporating modern sustainability practices and visitor management strategies.

The competition timeline extends through spring 2026, when Parks Canada will announce the winning design. The selected proposal will then move forward to detailed design and construction phases, ultimately creating a new landmark that will serve visitors and the local community for generations to come. This project represents one of the most significant developments in Banff's recent history and will set new standards for visitor infrastructure in protected natural areas worldwide.