May 11, 2016 - 2:56 PM
CALGARY - The new home of the National Music Centre will throw open its doors on Canada Day.
Calgary's Studio Bell has been under construction for more than two years, and when it officially opens, it'll be the first permanent home of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
The musical hub spans 160,000 square feet and cost about $191 million to build. Across its five floors are a number of exhibition spaces, as well as the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame.
A preview of the unfinished building was shown to musicians and other industry players when Studio Bell hosted an event to coincide with the Juno Awards last month.
Burton Cummings was in attendance to be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. There will be a room filled with memorabilia from his career for the duration of the year until next year's inductee is announced ahead of the 2017 Junos.
"We are ecstatic to finally reveal this remarkable facility and its potential to music lovers from home and away," National Music Centre chief executive Andrew Mosker said in a statement.
Organizers say the building will be open to the public for free on July 1 during regular hours.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2016