Noteworthy American artist Maya Lin designing Glenbow rooftop terrace

Calgary will see a new public facility designed by an internationally recognized artist and designer as part of the multi-million dollar upgrades to the Glenbow Museum.

Maya Lin, best known as the designer of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., is designing a 13,000-square-foot rooftop terrace.

It's part of the downtown building's transformation on both the inside and outside of the facility that was originally designed in the 1970s.

Designing the Calgary terrace will be Lin's first project in Canada.

The environmentalist and artist said part of the appeal for her in selecting a project in the heart of Canada's energy sector was being able to highlight reusing and retooling existing spaces.

"Urban infill and adaptive reuse can send a huge positive message about how we should rethink how we build, where we build and why we build in a lot of ways," said Lin in an interview with CBC News.

"In doing adaptive reuse, you reduce your carbon footprint amazingly, and hopefully it's a shining example of a sustainable way of living and lower climate cost," she said, pointing out that she is taking design inspiration from prairie landscapes and views.

Lin is also designing an oculus, or a round-shaped opening, as part of the project to allow natural light to filter from the rooftop into the museum itself. 

According to the museum and the designer, the new terrace will also include a pavilion available year-round in both cold and warmer seasons, along with event spaces, sculptures and gardens.

On a tour of the under-construction space, covered in late-October snow, Lin pointed out that her goal is to create a space that is still usable in the winter months. 

Visitors will be able to stand inside a planned pavilion to stay warm while enjoying the view of both the rooftop terrace and the views of downtown Calgary.

"I hope that what I'm doing on the rooftop is welcoming you to the sky and the prairie as well…to pull the prairie onto the roof is something I'm really looking forward to," she said.

In a press release, the museum leadership said it's excited to provide a new public space for Calgarians.

"We are transforming a 50 year old roof at the museum into a community oriented place where you can come up out of downtown," wrote Nicholas Bell, CEO of the Glenbow Museum.