The Universiade Pavilion, commonly known as the Butterdome, is getting a new look that acknowledges the building’s iconic past and incorporates modern and improved design elements.
Central to the new building envelope renovation is a palette of green and gold that draws from the university’s colours and reflects the surrounding river valley’s fall foliage. A lighting feature, inspired by the curves of the North Saskatchewan River, will weave across the new exterior and brighten the university’s North Campus at night.
Added windows will allow more natural light into the space and establish a new relationship between the building and the street, making the building more welcoming.
“For decades, the Butterdome has been a home for athletic tournaments and so much more,” says Todd Gilchrist, vice-president of University Services, Operations and Finance. “From celebrating high school graduations to hosting the annual craft sale — and even serving as a safe space during a provincial crisis — it has consistently brought people together.”
However, the building’s cladding has reached the end of its practical life, with some of its panels gathering rust and damage causing leaks in the building. Due to the existing building shape, snow and ice can slide from the roof onto sidewalks below, requiring the university to install protective scaffolding during colder months. The new design will correct this issue.
A digital rendering captures how Universiade Pavilion’s renovated exterior will look at night when the lighting feature brightens 87 Ave. and the surrounding buildings. (Photo: ACI Architects)
When it was built in 1983 for the Summer Universiade held in Edmonton that year, the Universiade Pavilion was billed as a field house for the future. The new envelope will continue that look to the future by using current sustainable architecture practices to achieve energy savings. In addition, solar panels will be added to the building’s roof.
Funding for the renewal is provided mainly 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,” says Advanced Education Minister Myles McDougall.
“This investment will modernize the building, improve safety and extend its life while respecting its history and iconic design. By upgrading this facility with sustainable features and a renewed exterior, we are ensuring it continues to serve the University of Alberta and the wider community for generations to come.”
Site preparation work and sidewalk closures are underway, with the project expected to be completed in fall 2027.