‘Respecting its history and iconic design’: Renderings of Butterdome renovation revealed

The Butterdome at the University of Alberta is getting a makeover, going from yellow to green and gold and getting needed upgrades. Nahreman Issa reports.

Edmonton’s Universiade Pavilion, more commonly known as the Butterdome, will be getting a refresh that acknowledges the iconic building’s past while incorporating modern and improved design elements.

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Renderings of the new facade were released Wednesday, which include a palette of green and gold, an exterior lighting feature inspired by the curves of the North Saskatchewan River, and windows.

For more than four decades, the building has hosted sporting events, ceremonies, career shows and craft fairs, as well as provincial emergency response operations.

Today, the Butterdome’s cladding has reached the end of its practical life, with some of its bright yellow panels gathering rust and damage, causing leaks. Ice and snow are able to slide off of the building from the roof onto sidewalks, requiring protective scaffolding during the winter months. The university said the new design will correct this hazard.

The project is expected to be completed in fall 2027, with site preparation and sidewalk closures already underway.

Funding for the renewal project is primarily provided through a $27-million grant from the Government of Alberta.

“The Butterdome is one of Edmonton’s most recognizable campus landmarks and a place where students, families, and communities have come together for more than four decades,” said Advanced Education Minister Myles McDougall. “This investment will modernize the building, improve safety, and extend its life while respecting its history and iconic design.”

The Universiade Pavilion was built for the 1983 Universiade Games which welcomed more than 2,000 athletes from around the world.

Coming in at 64,000 square feet, the multi-purpose indoor complex houses a seven-lane 200-metre track, long jump and pole-vaulting areas, an indoor soccer field, basketball, volleyball, tennis and badminton courts, two-level bleacher seating with 5,500 capacity, locker rooms and multi-purpose rooms.