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Despite its prominent position in the Downtown West End, the Centennial Planetarium has been sitting empty since the Calgary Science Centre vacated the premises in 2011. As one of the finest examples of Brutalist architecture in the city — which also happens to hold a special place in the hearts of many Calgarians — the building deserves to be celebrated. Thankfully, a new purpose seems to be on the horizon. Contemporary Calgary — a collaboration between the Art Gallery of Calgary, the Institute for Modern and Contemporary Art, and the Museum of Contemporary Art Calgary — has expressed interest in converting the facility into a public art gallery. It's got good bones for it too: the 45,000-square-foot space boasts the old IMAX Dome and a large auditorium, two distinct spaces that could host playful art installations, performances, and lectures. So as the city negotiates with Contemporary Calgary to return the heritage building to its former glory, we take a look back at how it all began.
For cities across Canada wanting to leave a lasting impression of the centennial in 1967, building significant public venues was the way to go. Commemorative centennial projects like Norbrock Stadium in Kamloops and the National Music Centre in Ottawa, in addition to the mania around Expo 67, spoke to our publicly displayed patriotism and affections. The City of Calgary was no different. The centennial coincided with the age of space exploration, so officials decided to undertake the construction of a new planetarium. A design competition held in 1964 yielded McMillan Long, Gordon Atkins, and Bill Boucock as the three finalists, with McMillan Long eventually emerging victorious. The partnership between Hugh McMillan and Jack Long had only formally begun the same year, and lasted long enough to see the project through to completion.
Opened in 1967, the building's raw concrete and non-orthogonal design is broken into two wings situated around a central bay. The west wing hosts the 255-seat celestial theatre, while the east wing holds the 250-seat lecture hall. The building had already received substantial recognition in architectural circles well before the Calgary Science Centre moved into the space in 1984. Centennial Planetarium won the Nation Design Council Concrete Award the same year it opened and the Massey Medal in Architecture three years later.
The symbolic and historical value of the planetarium is firmly implanted in the minds of the countless Calgarians who have traversed its spaces, many of which are cavernous hallmarks of Brutalism. Now, an opportunity to create new memories has presented itself to 701 11th Street SW, and with it comes a responsibility to respect the landmark structure. Turning the dilapidated facility into a vibrant hub for arts and culture could be just the shot in the arm it needs to reclaim its position as one of Calgary's premier educational experiences.
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