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Studio Bell turns music into a wayfinding idea: nine curved, interlocking towers hold acoustically distinct rooms for exhibitions and performances, while the open spaces between them bring visitors, sounds, and views of Calgary back together. The Calgary home of the National Music Centre, designed by Allied Works Architecture and architect Brad Cloepfil, opened in 2016 and incorporates the historic King Edward Hotel, the King Eddy blues venue.
What is Studio Bell?
Studio Bell is the public home of the National Music Centre in Calgary, Alberta. It brings museum and collection galleries together with performance, recording and broadcast facilities, education spaces, and live music. The institution describes five floors of exhibition, performance, and gallery spaces; the building is therefore both a cultural venue and an active music institution, not simply a sculptural exterior.
Published area figures differ: Studio Bell and Tourism Calgary describe the building as 160,000 square feet, while Allied Works Architecture lists 163,000 square feet in its project data. The sources do not explain the difference, so neither figure should be treated as a definitive reconciliation of the other.
Who designed Studio Bell, and what shaped its form?
Allied Works Architecture designed Studio Bell, with Brad Cloepfil named as architect. Its defining composition is nine subtly curved, interlocking towers clad in glazed terra cotta. Cloepfil describes the towers as resonant vessels, shaped by light, gravity, and acoustics. The architect also connects the building’s references to Calgary’s setting, including views of the Bow River and the surrounding cityscape.
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Studio Bell’s 2024 architecture brochure attributes 220,000 custom glazed terra-cotta tiles to the exterior. The figure conveys the scale of the cladding, while the material’s changing surface gives the towers a distinct presence without making the building’s music concept depend on literal musical imagery.
How does the architecture organize music and movement?
Towers create focused volumes
Allied Works describes the towers as acoustically distinct volumes, or “stages.” That organization gives the building a clear architectural counterpart to its varied program: a collection gallery, performance space, or other activity can occupy a more defined volume rather than blending into one undifferentiated hall. Allied Works lists a 300-seat performance space among the project’s facilities.
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- An all-in-one music theory course designed for students of any age — whether listeners or performers — who want a solid understanding of the language of music
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Spaces between towers connect the institution
The spaces between the towers act as connective tissue. Studio Bell describes sound and activity resonating through open spaces and up across five floors. In visitor terms, the design alternates between rooms with a particular focus and shared circulation areas that reconnect those experiences. The open areas also frame changing views of the building and city as people move through it.
This is an architectural intention and visitor description, not proof that the building has been measured to perform as a musical instrument. The available project information does not give decibel levels, reverberation times, or acoustic test results. “Instrument” is best understood as the institution’s explanatory metaphor for a building organized around music, sound, and light.
Mechanical systems support the acoustic aim
Stantec reports that it fine-tuned the mechanical systems to minimize interference with programming. That detail matters because acoustic character depends not only on room shapes and surfaces but also on managing background noise from building services. The consultant’s description supports the design goal; it does not supply measured evidence of acoustic performance.
How does Studio Bell incorporate the King Eddy?
The historic King Edward Hotel, known as the King Eddy, is integrated into the larger project as a music venue with a blues history. It is not one of the nine new towers. Allied Works describes the project as bringing the restored hotel and its club together with new presentation spaces, artists’ residences, and recording studios.
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- Format: Book & 2 CDs
- Category: Textbook - General
- Contributors: By Andrew Surmani, Karen Farnum Surmani, and Morton Manus
- Pub Date: 8/2004
- Series: Essentials of Music Theory
The relationship makes the building’s music story broader than the new construction: Studio Bell’s contemporary galleries and performance spaces sit alongside a historic venue associated with Calgary’s live-music culture. The older building is part of the institution’s program and urban presence, not merely a decorative reference attached to the towers.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What can visitors encounter inside?
Studio Bell’s visitor information describes performances, exhibitions, interactive activities, and guided tours. Its permanent exhibitions information identifies examples including the Kimball Theatre Organ, halls of fame, and the East Village Skybridge. Tourism Calgary describes 22 exhibition spaces across five levels. These details show how varied uses occupy the building’s interconnected spaces, though exhibitions and visitor logistics can change.
For a visit, check Studio Bell’s official visitor information close to your travel date for current hours, admission, accessibility details, and tour availability. The available sources establish that tours and performances are part of the offering, but do not make any particular schedule or price permanent.
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