The new Royal Alberta Museum, a 419,000-square-foot development, has entered construction in downtown Edmonton, Alta. The facility, which will become the largest museum in western Canada, will feature over 82,000 square feet of exhibition space focused on the natural and human history of Alberta. It replaces and doubles the size of an existing facility, built in 1967.

Located in Edmonton’s arts district, the museum will be constructed with sustainability in mind. Aiming for a LEED-Gold certification, contractor Ledcor Construction will use Indiana limestone, a natural product with low environmental impact, for the building’s exterior walls.

The facility will also feature:

• A 7,000-square-foot children’s gallery;
• A 3,000-square-foot bug room;
• A 12,000-square foot feature gallery;
• Orientation, community and Manitou Stone galleries;
• Improved visitor services;
• A museum shop and café;
• A large parking lot, capable of accommodating up to 3,000 vehicles; and
• An outdoor patio and gardens.

The project, which is slated for completion in 2016, was designed by architectural firm DIALOG.