Federal funding advances Contemporary Calgary expansion

July 7, 2026

Last week, the Government of Canada announced it was committing $40 million to the Calgary Centennial Planetarium Transformation Project. The investment — part of Ottawa’s recently launched $51 billion infrastructure fund — will support the third and final phase of the historic planetarium’s transformation into the largest non-collecting contemporary art gallery in Western Canada.

Designed by KPMB with GGA-Architecture, the expanded home of Contemporary Calgary will establish a new cultural anchor for Calgary’s West End and preserve one of the city’s most recognizable architectural landmarks. The Brutalist planetarium was constructed for Canada’s Centennial in 1967 before serving as the Calgary Science Centre between 1984 and 2011. It has been home to Contemporary Calgary since 2020.

The project’s final phase will introduce a new entrance pavilion, a new education and gallery wing, expanded events spaces, and a significant public art park with landscape design by PFS Studio. The planetarium’s dome will also be repurposed for displaying contemporary digital art — a first-of-its-kind space.

In total, the transformation will increase usable floor area by nearly 57 percent, while also addressing longstanding accessibility issues created by the building’s fragmented ground level.

“The Centennial Planetarium was originally built through a remarkable partnership among governments to celebrate Canada’s Centennial. Today’s investment ensures that legacy continues for generations to come. This building has served Calgarians as a planetarium, a science centre and, today, as Contemporary Calgary,” said David Leinster, CEO of the gallery.

Contemporary Calgary is targeting net-zero operational performance through geothermal energy and high-performance building systems. According to modelling, the building’s total energy consumption will be reduced by 41 percent.

“This project demonstrates how heritage preservation, adaptive reuse, and environmental leadership can come together to build stronger communities while creating a lasting cultural legacy for Calgary and Canada,” added Leinster.

More information about the funding announcement can be found at contemporarycalgary.com.