Private-sector proposal aims to repurpose old Royal Alberta Museum building

An Edmonton architectural firm and development company are teaming up to try to save the old Royal Alberta Museum building.

In August, the provincial government announced that the landmark in the Glenora neighbourhood would be demolished and converted into a new green space.

For years, the fate of the former museum has been a topic of debate. Once a hub of cultural and educational activity, the building has sat vacant since 2015.

This week, Reimagine — an architecture firm — and Beljan Development announced a joint proposal to keep the building standing by repurposing it into a new community hub.

Vedran Škopac, a principal at Reimagine, told CBC's Edmonton AM that the two groups planned to preserve the exterior of the building while redeveloping its interior into a "cultural, food, and recreational centre."

"We are dramatically opposed to demolishing this tremendous mid-century modern jewel that carries so much memory," he said.

Škopac said the potential redevelopment plans could involve bringing in a small grocery store, restaurants, coffee shops and even a microbrewery into the building — as well as recreational facilities like pickleball, squash, and indoor soccer courts.

"We are basically proposing a public-private partnership where the developer would invest in this property so the province would not have this burden. Then it is off the books for Albertan taxpayers," said Škopac.

Vivian Manasc, founding principal and architect with Reimagine, said that the proposal's vision for the building is a community facility operated as a business.

"The building will certainly require an investment, and we're proposing that the private sector bring that money to the table and enter into a 99-year lease with the government for the property, then get a return on that investment down the road after fixing the building up and bringing in new tenants," she said.

The provincial government estimated that the cost to demolish the building would be between $22 and $48 million. It costs $700,000 yearly just to maintain and operate the vacant building. 

Stuart Adams, a long-time Edmonton resident who is part of a coalition of community groups trying to save the building, said the proposal is a realistic solution to save the former museum.

"The building has served its purpose for almost 60 years. That purpose has passed, and now it could be reincarnated into a new role," he said.

Edmonton AM7:44A quest to save the old Royal Alberta Museum building

An Edmonton developer and an architectural firm are joining forces to try to save a landmark from the wrecking ball. The province plans to tear down the old Royal Alberta Museum building on 102nd Avenue in Glenora and convert it to green space. Vedran Skopac is the principal at Reimagine Architects.

A revived proposal

 Škopac said the original proposal for repurposing the building is a few years old.

"In 2022, we were so close to having the government commit and sign conditions and the lease. However, that fell through." 

The Aug. 1 announcement that the provincial government was planning to demolish the building "reinvigorated" this proposal, Škopac added.

In a statement, Reimagine Architects said that Manasc, Škopac, and Ivan Beljan of Beljan Development recently presented their proposal for the building to Mary Persson, Alberta's deputy minister of infrastructure.

Alberta Infrastructure told CBC that it cannot comment on the proposal because it is still being reviewed and that the government remains committed to redeveloping the site into a family-friendly park and green space, as announced in August.

Reimagine Architects and Beljan Development will host a presentation for community members and politicians on their full proposal for the old Royal Alberta Museum building this Thursday at the Matrix Hotel in downtown Edmonton.