Glenbow Museum asks the city for another $18M as renovation costs soar

The city is being asked to contribute millions of dollars to help cover the cost escalation on the major renovation of the Glenbow Museum.

The museum has asked the city for another $18 million.

Work is already well underway on the renovation of the Glenbow Museum, which will see it revamped with an entirely new look and modern features inside and out.

The president and CEO Nicholas Bell says the project’s budget is increasing though due to the rising cost of construction materials. Originally pegged to cost about $120 million, it’s now estimated that the project will come in at about $130 million.

“It’s the inflation we see across materials, it’s the inflation that we’ve seen essentially in everything that we would ever need to procure to change this building.”

All three levels of government and private donors have contributed to the Glenbow renovation, including $11 million from the city.

Now that an additional $18 million is needed, the city says it can free up $12 million in unused infrastructure money.

But Mayor Jyoti Gondek is not sure where the remaining cash will come from.

“That remains to be seen,” she said.

“I think the city has definitely done our part to make sure that the project is moving forward and in a good way and if there are outstanding dollars that need to be found, I’m sure all the partners will discuss it with each other.”

The Glenbow closed its doors in 2021 and the museum isn’t expected to reopen until late in 2025 or early 2026.