Two architecture firms will partner to design Calgary’s new $550-million arena, the Calgary Municipal Land Corp. announced Wednesday.

Global design firm HOK and local company Dialog will design the new building that city council approved last year to replace the iconic but aging Saddledome. The companies also worked together to design Edmonton’s downtown arena, Rogers Place.

CMLC says the companies were chosen “based on their combined relevant expertise for projects of this scale, thoughtful understanding of the guiding principles of the project and connection to how the event centre will contribute to, and fit within, the area supporting a vibrant culture and entertainment district.”

HOK has built major arenas in the U.S., including Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium and Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, while Dialog has contributed to projects including Calgary’s Central Library and Edmonton’s Walterdale Bridge.

There’s no set timeline yet for when Calgarians will get to see how the future arena will look. While the city has previously released renderings that illustrate possibilities for the building, those were just examples, and the new design team now has months of work ahead to come up with their own concept.

The new arena, officially called an event centre by the city, will be part of planned redevelopment of East Victoria Park that also includes a $500-million expansion of the BMO Centre.

The city and the Flames owners, the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corp., are contributing $275 million each to build the arena, but the city is also on the hook for additional costs to demolish the Saddledome.

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