Contemporary Calgary – an upcoming art gallery housed in the former Centennial Planetarium in Calgary, Canada – has completed the first phase of its transformation.
The Centennial Planetarium – known for its brutalist architecture – features an imposing concrete dome atop the main structure - has undergone a major renovation, carried out by Gibbs Gage Architects and KPMB Architects, to transform the space into an art gallery.
"The re-imagination of the Centennial Planetarium – an icon of optimism – into a dynamic, game-changing cultural hub, is an ideal project of architecture in our time," said Bruce Kuwabara, partner at KPMB and design-lead on the project.
The gallery will officially open to the public on 23 January 2020, and will play host to a series of travelling exhibitions, in place of fixed collections, to keep the offering exciting and fresh for repeat visitors. Exhibits will include Luke Jerram's Museum of the Moon, a scale model of the Moon suspended from the top of the dome, and Yoko Ono's Growing Freedom: The instructions of Yoko Ono and The art of John and Yoko.
The gallery has also announced a new admissions policy, offering a CA$10 (US$7.62, £5.82) admission fee or an annual membership of CA$20 (US$15.24, £11.64), as well as extended opening hours - Tuesday to Sunday 11am - 6pm and 9pm on Thursdays - to make it one of the most accessible galleries in the region.
