P+A worked closely with the Resort Municipality of Whistler staff and San Francisco-based landscape architect, Eldon Beck, to design and detail this public gathering space on the former site of the 2010 Winter Olympics Medals Plaza.
Designed for complete programming flexibility, the 4-acre Whistler Olympic Plaza has become the principal venue for special events within the Village including concerts, recreation, arts and cultural gatherings, and community celebrations. An open-air performance pavilion anchors the space providing a full range of facilities for performances attended by thousands of spectators. The pavilion and plaza foreground is also used for winter skating. A circular paved area surrounding a “village green” includes the finish line for the Grand Fondo bike race and Ironman Canada Triathlon, and is suited for both passive and active uses. The plaza’s stepped edges have been designed to incorporate many original Olympic elements, including the Olympic Rings, Cauldron, and the Paralympics symbol, the Agitos.