Scoping Out Contemporary Calgary's New Home

×

Expand

Contemporary Calgary at the former planetarium.

Calgary's arts community was invited recently to scope out the former planetarium (click for video), the new venue for Contemporary Calgary, following completion of some $24.7 million in upgrades by the City of Calgary. 

On hand were David Leinster, the CEO of Contemporary Calgary, and chief curator Ryan Doherty, along with Toronto architect Bruce Kuwabara, a partner with KPMB, who will oversee further renovations with Calgary's Gibbs Gage Architects.

×

Expand

Contemporary Calgary open house at the former planetarium

David Leinster, CEO of Contemporary Calgary; Bruce Kuwabara, partner and lead architect, KPMB Architects; and Ryan Doherty, chief curator Contemporary Calgary (from left to right)

Work is already underway on the so-called "north shed" extension (formerly the Creative Kids Museum) to create what's being called a "temporary contemporary" space. 

Programming there is set to begin when Contemporary Calgary officially takes possession in June.

Programming will continue there during the projected $30-million renovation of the main building, slated for completion in the summer of 2021.

×

Expand

Contemporary Calgary at the former planetarium's main level.

The Centennial Planetarium was built in 1967 and became the Calgary Science Centre in 1987.

It has been vacant since 2011 when the Telus World of Science moved to its purpose-built location.