Centennial Planetarium Restoration

Calgary, Canada

Photo © Jamie Anholt

arkkitehdit: Lemay

Location: Calgary, Canada
Year: 2019
Client: City of Calgary
Team: Grace Coulter Sherlock

This project was recognized by the Architect Newspaper for its sensitive restoration of a striking architectural icon from Canada’s centennial in 1967. The new presence has been a major contributor to the redevelopment of Calgary’s high-density Downtown West neighbourhood.

With great respect for the building’s heritage character, the revitalization replaces the iconic dome, ceilings and envelope, and creates the ideal canvas for exhibiting artwork in what is now a stunning art gallery. The project also preserves and showcases original tile floors, mosaics and dropped sculptural acoustic panel ceilings.

Maintaining the original award-winning architecture while bringing systems up to code, this model of adaptive reuse has given birth to a world-class destination for modern and contemporary art.