A planetarium in Calgary, Canada, will undergo a major transformation, becoming a world-class modern and contemporary art destination with exhibits from around the world to go on display.

Built in 1967, the Centennial Planetarium is a significant landmark in Calgary due in part to its brutalist architecture and the concrete dome that sits atop its main structure.

Gibbs Gage Architects and KPMB Architects will partner for the design process, which is due to start in the next month. The design process will be led by KPMB partner Bruce Kuwabara, who has worked on projects such as Remai Modern in Saskatoon, the Gardiner Museum in Toronto and the Ottawa Art Gallery.

"Contemporary art has the power to be a leading force in how we perceive and think about society and the world," said Kuwabara.

"The re-imagination of the Centennial Planetarium – an icon of optimism – into a dynamic, game-changing cultural hub, is an ideal project of architecture in our time."

The City of Calgary and Contemporary Calgary announced their combined plans to partner on a new gallery at the Centennial Planetarium in Q2 2018. Contemporary Calgary issued a request for proposals for architectural design services that drew significant international interest with the pairing of Gibbs Gage and KPMB winning the bid.

"The quality of the submissions and the enthusiasm of the respondents was impressive," said Douglas Olson, Contemporary Calgary Board member and chair of the Building Committee.

"We were unanimous in our decision to hire this very capable team, given their proven design acumen and the close match of their approach with the vision and values of our organisation."