The $9 million expansion to the Royal Tyrrell Museum is on budget and on schedule for a spring grand opening.
Last week, provincial infrastructure minister Sandra Jansen toured the facility which appear to be taking shape to be a valuable new addition to the museum, which is Drumheller’s biggest tourist draw.
The expansion is roughly 1,100 square metres and it will make more space for the distance learning center and additional classroom and laboratory space. It will feature a large multi-purpose room that can be used for programming and conferences. It will also expand on improvements that make visits a more positive experience including accessible washroom facilities, including a gender-neutral bathroom, a hands-on discovery room, and a family rest area.
Museum executive director Andrew Neuman says each element of the project is exciting for the institution.
“The whole idea of having a rest and rejuvenation area is what caught my interest in the beginning, but this interactive space which will replace the old one will be popular, not just for kids but for adults, too,” he says, adding the multipurpose space will afford them flexibility on different programs and events.
“It is an absolute delight to come out and see projects like this… One of the great things when you come out here you have a chance to come down into this valley, and you see the topography and all of the wonderful landscape, you realize what a wonderful little part of Alberta this is,” Jansen said at the museum.
The project has been a long time coming, and in the spring of 2016, the Alberta government committed to a budget for the project. The federal government is also contributing $3.95 million to the $9.3 million renovations. Last summer, Lear Construction was selected as the contractor.
