An innovative public facility in Calgary’s East Village has been recognized as the 2025–2026 recipient of the Les Grube Memorial Design Award, honoring projects that demonstrate uniquely creative and practical uses of chain link fencing. The award highlights how chain link can be thoughtfully integrated into public spaces to support functionality, durability, and design excellence.
The award-winning project, The Open, reflects a modern approach to civic infrastructure. Designed to serve people of all ages and abilities, the facility emphasizes accessibility, inclusivity, and everyday usability. Its name draws inspiration from pickleball’s tournament format while symbolizing openness and community connection, reinforcing the project’s role as a welcoming public asset.
Rather than using fencing solely as a boundary or security feature, The Open incorporates chain link as an architectural element that enhances visibility, safety, and the overall sense of place. This thoughtful integration demonstrates how fencing can contribute to placemaking while meeting the practical demands of a high-use public recreation environment.
The Open was designed by Public City Architecture of Winnipeg, Manitoba, and installed by Rite-Way Fencing, based in Calgary. The collaboration between architect and contractor resulted in a facility that balances form and function, showing how design and construction can work together to elevate everyday public spaces.
The project is part of a $2.2 million public investment that includes pickleball courts and public washroom facilities, developed to expand recreational opportunities in Calgary’s East Village neighborhood. As pickleball continues to grow in popularity across North America, The Open provides year-round community value by supporting active lifestyles while also offering essential public amenities.
The Open will be featured in Fence News USA and other industry publications and will be formally recognized during the Awards Program at FenceTech 2026 in Indianapolis, where industry leaders gather to celebrate innovation, best practices, and excellence in fence-related design and construction.
Submit Your Project for a Future Les Grube Memorial Design Award
Have a project that showcases a creative, practical, or innovative use of chain link fencing? CLFMI encourages architects, designers, and fence contractors to submit their projects for consideration in future Les Grube Memorial Design Award cycles.
Winning projects receive:
- Industry recognition
- Featured editorial coverage
- Award presentation at FenceTech
- Visibility among industry leaders and peers
👉 Learn more about the award and submit your project at: https://chainlinkinfo.org
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