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In the course of our daily reporting, we often uncover unusual projects, places, or connections that don't make the final cut. Instead of keeping it to ourselves, we're pleased to share our Architrivia.
The moon landing having captured the imaginations of children everywhere just nine years prior, a group of passionate citizens, armed with tenacity and a common goal, would incorporate the Edmonton Space Sciences Foundation in 1978. This non-profit organization promoted the construction of a new planetarium and science centre for the city, one that would replace the 1960-built Queen Elizabeth Planetarium, which had become limited by its meagre 65-person seating capacity.
Led by John Hault, the group would retain the services of famous Canadian architect Douglas Cardinal in 1979. The following year, the City of Edmonton selected the Edmonton Space Sciences Centre as the flagship project commemorating the 75th anniversary of the province of Alberta. The project broke ground in March 1982 just metres away from the Queen Elizabeth Planetarium, opening for business two years later.
The facility would implement a minor change to its name in 1990 to become the Edmonton Space & Science Centre. A major renovation in 1992 added 15,000 square feet of space across two floors to the north side of the building, including a new lobby, gift shop, IMAX Theatre entry, and a large gallery for travelling exhibits. Ten years later, a $14 million rehabilitation project was carried out under the facility's Vision Beyond 2000 framework. It reopened for Canada Day in 2001 with a new name: Odyssium.
It once again changed monikers in 2005, when Telus formed a 20-year partnership with the facility. The Telus World of Science now attracts over half a million visitors a year and features Canada's largest planetarium dome theatre. The popular science centre recently received $3.35 million in funding from the federal government for a major $40 million upgrade to the complex, which would significantly increase its footprint.
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