The winning design and builder has been chosen for the Royal Alberta Museum. Ledcor Design Build has been awarded the multi-million dollar contract to build the museum.
The province had invited public input on the final four designs for the museum that will stand on prime downtown land, just north of City Hall and the Art Gallery of Alberta.
"This is an opportunity for Albertans. It's an opportunity for students," said Minister of Infrastructure Ray Danyluk.
Ledcor's designs were among three others unveiled in August, four months after the premier's long-awaited announcement to build a new museum.
Initially the four designs came with plenty of criticism. Many called them boxy, and uninspired. Even the government's own minister Thomas Lukaszuk called the finalists "underwhelming".
But a lot of that has to do with the timeline and budget for this project. The companies had just six weeks to come up with the proposals.
At 36,000 square metres, the building will double the size of the current Glenora facility, allowing the city to attract larger exhibits.
"I know it's going to be a really brilliant building," said Mayor Stephen Mandel. "It's what's inside an art gallery...it's what's inside a museum that counts."
Click here to see Ledcor's interior view of the main lobby. And click here to see the view looking from the south corner of 103 A Ave. and 97 St.
With files from Scott Roberts
