KPMB unveils vision for Banff Visitor Centre

June 11, 2026

As part of Parks Canada’s international competition for a new Visitor Centre in Banff National Park, KPMB, Hindle Architects, and PFS Studio envisioned not only a point of arrival, but a teacher — a place dedicated to fostering stewardship of local ecosystems, honouring Indigenous knowledge, and deepening engagement with the natural world.

Located on the western portion of the 200-Block of Banff Avenue, our design spans a repurposed heritage building and several new asymmetric timber structures, including a main hall and a multipurpose space connected by a web of open-air plazas. Together, they create flexible indoor-outdoor spaces for learning, gathering, and special events that connect visitors and residents to nature.

Composed of two peaked-roof timber structures, the Visitor Centre strays from the Town of Banff’s urban grid to better align with the sun, prevailing winds, and flow of water. As a flexible extension of the landscape, the design offers visitors a deeper understanding of Banff’s natural processes and rhythms as it adapts to the changing seasons.

“Our project approaches architecture as a question of reciprocity: how can a building be shaped by its surroundings and, in turn, how can that deepen our connection to nature?” says KPMB partner Kevin Bridgman.

On the site’s eastern portion, a series of mass-timber residential blocks were designed to introduce needed housing to the Town of Banff, while also featuring community-focused spaces for childcare and adult learning.

Kevin and KPMB have significant experience in Banff National Park, including the renovation and expansion of the Jenny Belzberg Theatre and the modernization of Lloyd Hall at the Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity.

In addition to Hindle Architects and PFS Studio, KPMB’s 200-Block competition team also included Entuitive, Reinbold Engineering Group, Salas O’Brien, Transsolar KlimaEngineering, and Lord Cultural Resources.

Read more about our vision for the 200-Block.