The Universiade Pavilion — identified to many because the Butterdome as a consequence of its vivid yellow exterior — has been an iconic constructing in Edmonton for many years and now, the property on the College of Alberta campus is getting a makeover.
The post-secondary establishment says the renovations pay tribute to the previous whereas additionally incorporating fashionable and improved design parts.
Starting this spring, the U of A and the province mentioned the renovations will exchange the getting older constructing exterior and roof to handle questions of safety from ice and snow and enhance lighting and pedestrian security, in addition to improve vitality effectivity.
These displaced by the Fort McMurray wildfire line up exterior Edmonton’s Butterdome for presidency money playing cards, Could 11, 2016.
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Identified for its distinctive yellow look that impressed the nickname, the Universiade Pavilion has hosted every thing from sporting occasions to Remembrance Day ceremonies, profession exhibits, craft gala’s and even college last exams.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, it additionally served as an alternate hospital house and through occasions just like the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire, it hosted provincial emergency response operations.
College companies operations and finance vice-president Todd Gilchrist mentioned loads of persons are connected to the present look and nickname.
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“There’s a nostalgia with the Butterdome, proper?” he mentioned.
“Whereas we’re not 100 per cent certain what is going to occur with the Butterdome nickname, we anticipate that we are going to see and listen to individuals nonetheless confer with it because the Butterdome.”
However after 40 years, the constructing’s cladding has reached the top of its sensible life, as among the panels have begun to rust and leak, main to break contained in the constructing.
As properly, because of the current constructing’s rounded form, snow and ice can slide from the roof onto sidewalks beneath, requiring the college to put in protecting scaffolding throughout colder months.
The U of A and province mentioned the renovation will appropriate that difficulty.
The brand new design includes a gradient of inexperienced and gold-coloured panels that attracts from the college’s official colors and displays the encompassing river valley’s fall foliage.
The U of A mentioned a lighting characteristic, impressed by the curves of the North Saskatchewan River, will wind throughout the brand new exterior and brighten the college campus at night time.
Home windows are additionally being added to let pure mild into the house.
“We expect that this design is inspiring and will increase that pleasure,” Gilchrist mentioned.
When it was created, Universiade Pavilion was billed as a subject home for the longer term.
The U of A mentioned the brand new envelope makes use of present sustainable structure practices to attain vitality financial savings and that photo voltaic panels might be added on the roof.
The Universiade Pavilion was initially constructed for the 1983 Universiade Video games, which hosted greater than 2,000 athletes from world wide.
The 64,000-square-foot, multi-purpose indoor complicated incorporates a seven-lane, 200-metre monitor, together with lengthy leap and pole-vaulting areas, an indoor soccer subject, basketball courts, volleyball courts, tennis courts and badminton courts.
There are additionally two-level bleacher seating with a 5,500 capability, locker rooms and multi-purpose areas.
The Butterdome (Universiade Pavilion) on the College of Alberta campus in Edmonton, Alta. on Jan. 21, 2026.
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Website preparation work and sidewalk closures are underway and the renovations are anticipated to be accomplished within the fall of 2027.
Funding for the renewal is primarily supplied by way of a $27-million grant from the Authorities of Alberta.
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