CANADA’S CHILLING GLACIER SKYWALK

Conceived by Brewster Travel Canada and jointly developed by Sturgess Architecture and Read Jones Christoffersen Engineering, the walkway will be open to the public this month, three years after original designs were floated for the ambitious project.

A combination of structural steel and glass, the Skywalk is anchored into the rock on the side of the mountain. The scheme is imagined as an extension of the surrounding landscape, built into the region’s rugged terrain. The curved glass-floored structure protrudes some 30 metres from the cliff’s edge, encouraging guests to discover a new found appreciation of Jasper National Park. The use of steel, glass and wood echo the natural environment, while the absence of paint and other toxic finishes helps ensure that the project has a near-zero carbon footprint. By developing the swooping, glass-bottomed platform to fit within the same footprint as the existing viewpoint, the environmental impact is reduced and existing infrastructure – road links, parking and visitor facilities – will be used to service the new attraction.

The goal is to allow visitors to round out their experience on the glacier by bringing them to a place where they can see the path of the glacier's retreat and the stages of environmental development that are taking place in its wake.