The history of Alberta, Canada, is now on display at the newly rebuilt Royal Alberta Museum (RAM) in the state capital of Edmonton, following seven years of planning and development.

The museum building – now the largest in western Canada – is somewhat of an exhibition itself, with glazed walls that glow and then dissolve as the evening wears on and interior windows that allow views into its research laboratories, giving visitors the chance to see the undertaking of scientific and research work first hand.

In its Roundhouse area, an image of lightning has been laser-cut into metal panels that envelop its curving surfaces, animating the surface and creating the illusion of the Alberta sky.

RAM officially opened its doors to the public last week and has a number of collections and artefacts that were discovered in Alberta, from archaeological pieces to political displays to entertainment and advertising showcases.

The building was designed by architectural practice DIALOG, who won a 2011 competition for a design-builder in collaboration with a build team including Ledcor and Lundholm Associates.

The museum stretches to a huge 419,000sq ft (38,926sq m) in area, effectively doubling the size of its predecessor.

It boasts a range of natural and human history displays, long-term exhibition galleries and children’s galleries, as well as curatorial, research and collection spaces and a 11840sq ft (1,100sq m) feature gallery.