We all know that buildings don't always turn out like the renderings. Last-minute changes and real-life materials can all cause discrepancies between the vision and reality of a project. In our Flash Forward Friday feature, we take a look at how different projects stack up.

Set for an official grand opening on September 27, MacEwan University's Allard Hall — also known as the MacEwan University Centre for Arts and Culture — redefines a formerly tired landscape along 104 Avenue with a glazed 40,000-square-foot addition to the school's campus. Named in recognition of the Allard family's generous financial support, crowning a decades-long relationship with the University, the building provides students from the Faculty of Fine Arts and Communications with modern purpose-built spaces equipped with state-of-the-art technology, classroom and performance areas.

Rendering of Allard Hall, image via Bing Thom Architects

104 Avenue frontage, image by Forum contributor Daveography

One of Vancouver architect Bing Thom's final projects before his death last year, designed in collaboration with local architect Manasc Isaac, the building's porous exterior is composed of angled dark glass prism blocks and lime green soffits. At the building's core is a multi-level double atrium supplied by natural light and criss-crossed by elevated pedestrian bridges that originate from balcony areas the design team calls the "nests." These areas are designed for leisure, relaxation and informal learning.

Rendering of the western exposure, image via Bing Thom Architects

The western face of the completed building, image by Forum contributor Daveography

With the building complete and classes underway, we look back at how well the renderings predicted the final look of the structure. In the end, the piano key-like strips of opaque and translucent windows perfectly matched the pattern portrayed in the renderings for the project, barring some minor tweaks on the western and eastern exposures. The splash of green is just as pronounced as the renderings suggested and bring a dynamic flair to the building that underscores the irregular floor plates.

The completed building as seen from the Stantec Tower, image by Forum contributor Daveography

Following three years of construction, the dust has settled to reveal a new entrance landmark that characterizes the energy of the university and the fledging downtown core, which continues to be populated by a number of transformative public and private projects showcasing the health and vitality of urban Edmonton.

We will return in the near future with another comparison!