Federal government invests $40 million in Contemporary Calgary's planetarium overhaul
The transformation of the Centennial Planetarium into a public art gallery enters its final phase, with construction set to begin fall 2027.
The day's top stories, food & events — every morning at 7. Unsubscribe anytime.
The federal government is investing $40 million in Contemporary Calgary's redevelopment of the Centennial Planetarium on the west end of downtown.
The funding, announced July 4, comes from Ottawa's $51 billion Build Communities Strong Fund and will support the third and final phase of the arts group's years-long retrofit of the planetarium into a public art gallery. The project's total cost is estimated at $190 million, with the provincial government having contributed $40 million last year.
The final phase involves a new entrance pavilion, a three-floor education and gallery wing, expanded event spaces, a public art park and garden, and the transformation of the planetarium dome into an LED Art Dome. Upgrades will also improve the building's efficiency through geothermal energy and high-performance systems, targeting a 41 percent reduction in total energy consumption.
Renovations are expected to begin in fall 2027, with completion scheduled for 2030. Built in 1967 to mark Canada's centenary, the building previously housed the science centre until it moved in 2011 to reopen as Telus Spark. The site sat vacant for eight years before Contemporary Calgary leased it in 2019.
