Visitors can observe the beautiful Sunwapta Valley from 280 meters above through the skywalk’s glass-floored observation platform. The skywalk was designed to be an extension of the site’s natural surroundings rather than an obtrusion – to this end, it was built into the native bedrock using a blend of weathering steel, glass and wood. Toxin- and paint-free materials were used in the construction, and the architects sought to respect the site’s incredible raw environment by achieving a near-zero footprint,
Sturgess Architecture explains the impact of the landscape on the architectural features: “The complex landscape was the inspiration for the project’s design and materiality. The thrust-fault geological movement in the area has created a fractal landscape that informs the larger formal gesture of the architecture.”
The Glacier Skywalk was built in collaboration with a number of Canadian firms, all of which were dedicated to providing the area with an environmentally respectful design.
Images provided by Brewster Travel Canada