Alberta museum to get $150M revamp, new name

The Alberta government has announced a $150-million makeover for its provincial museum to celebrate Alberta's 100th birthday.

The money, to be spent over the next five years, will be used to update and renew the museum, which will also be christened with a new name the Royal Alberta Museum when the Queen visits Alberta later this month.

The renovation will see the institution, built in 1967, double in size and include a children's museum that will offer an interactive experience for kids. Other new features include:

• An exhibit called My Alberta, which details the province's history as seen through the eyes of Albertans.
• A zone that will show what goes on behind-the-scenes with curators and staff.
• A theatre presentation entitled Alberta Experience, which will include tornados, avalanches and the Northern Lights.

The renovation plans also call for the existing parking lot to move underground. The current space will then be turned into an interpretive park featuring native Alberta plants.

The Queen will get the first look at the plans for the new museum, created by Cohos Evamy Architecture and Lundholm Associates Architects, when she visits May 24.

An additional $30 million in funding for the project will come from the federal government through the Western Economic Diversification Canada fund.

Construction could start as early as next fall.