The transformation of Calgary’s Centennial Planetarium, a cornerstone of the community for decades, has left a lasting impression on Calgarians. Recognized by the Architect Newspaper, this sensitive restoration converted a striking architectural icon into a centre for contemporary art, preserving and celebrating its original heritage character while embracing a contrast between brutalism and a modern aesthetic. Its design revolves around the knowledge that the structure, its legacy, and its placement within the city required a meaningful intervention to help usher in the building’s new phase and purpose.

The original planetarium was built in celebration of Canada’s 100-year in 1967. The facility was later readapted as the Science Centre with a focus on children and children’s learning, but was vacated in 2011. Its recent revitalization replaced the ceilings, envelope and its iconic orthogonal domed roof to house what is now a stunning art gallery. Preserving and showcasing original tile floors, mosaics and dropped sculptural acoustic panel ceilings, aspects of the original building were left exposed or revealed through glass, treating the building itself as an art piece: Multiple theatre and gallery spaces reveal and restore original features such as wooden wall panelling and perforated metal siding. As for the addition of new materials, care was taken to make the design language visibly different from its surroundings while also being respectful of them.

To modernize the building and comply with contemporary building codes while honoring the planetarium’s original architects Hugh McMillan and Jack Long, many aspects of the building needed to be rebuilt. Contemporary construction methods were incorporated to create a contrast with the original architecture, and careful consideration was given to the appearance and routing of upgraded mechanical and electrical components. Ensuring continued accessibility was also a key component of the restoration, as a new floor layout was created within the building to accommodate the original multitude of winding ramps and elevators used for navigating the varying floor levels.

In providing a space for the public to engage with both Canadian and international artwork in new and exciting ways, the Centennial Planetarium’s revitalization gives it an opportunity to enrich its community once again. The restoration of the planetarium is about more than just breathing life into an old building; it is about reawakening a site that has been asleep for years and giving it a brighter future as a reimagined site. This structure’s renewal provides a strong basis for any future additions and further building on the site while ensuring its historic facilities are preserved and positioned as a space for all. By maintaining its original award-winning architecture while bringing systems up to code, this model of adaptive reuse has given birth to a world-class cultural destination.

https://lemay.com/projects/centennial-planetarium/