In a unique bid to celebrate Earth Day 2024 (April 22), fresh produce, herbs, and edible flowers will be grown in Eco Cases in CrossIron Mills Mall this month to be donated to the Airdrie Food Bank.
The project is an initiative from PARK (Promoting Artists Redefining Kulture), who teamed up with the Airdrie Food Bank and CrossIron Mills to launch the Eco Hub project on April 18.
The Eco Case re-uses the same structure from last year’s Eco Hub to help announce two new sustainability programs at CrossIron Mills: an Urban Garden and a Building Automation System. The return of Eco Hub: The Eco Cases will feature new artwork by local artists and interactive features.
According to Jessie Li, a producer with PARK, the building automation system will reduce the centre's CO2 emissions by an estimated 418 tonnes a year by reducing the use of energy-intensive heating and cooling systems during off-peak hours.
The first phase of the centre's Building Automation System will come online by the end of the summer.
"Guests can learn more about these new initiatives through the hand-painted comic strips that wrap along the structure’s walls and by completing two other interactive activities on the Eco Hub structure: a larger-than-life puzzle wall, and a magnetic, sustainability commitment voting wall," Li stated.
The character at the centre of this year’s installation is Dirk Alpine, the Eco Detective. Created by local comic book artist Sho Uehara, guests can follow along with Detective Dirk Alpine’s investigation of CrossIron Mills' new sustainability programs through the hand-painted comic strips that wrap along the structure’s walls.
The larger-than-life puzzle wall was designed by Sarah Friesen, and a magnetic, sustainability commitment voting wall was designed by Naomi Hoffman. Artists Uhera, Friesen, and Hoffman graduated from AUArts in Calgary.
If guests can crack one of the four cases, they will be entered for a chance to win a $250 CrossIron Mills gift card.
“CrossIron Mills is delighted to partner with PARK and their talented cast of local artists to announce our two significant new sustainability programs: an Urban Garden, and a Building Automation System," says Joel Tatlow, Marketing Manager of CrossIron Mills. "The Eco Cases promises an interactive, colourful, entertaining experience that tells the story of these exciting initiatives in a unique, accessible way for the families that visit our centre".
Eco Hub: The Eco Cases will officially launch to the public at CrossIron Mills on April 18, 2024 and will remain open until May 3, 2024. Visit crossironmills.com for full campaign details.
