August 3, 2022
For nearly 15 years, the founders and key stakeholders of the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada dreamt of a brand-new space to call home. A modern museum in which to tell stories of Canada’s aviation and aerospace heritage while providing an environment to inspire future generations of aviators and innovators. A place for education, inspiration, connection, and entertainment. On August 4, 2021, we received the keys to that space.
Located at 2088 Wellington Avenue on the campus of the Winnipeg Richardson International Airport, the new museum is an unusual shape, to take full advantage of the pie-shaped lot on which it sits. The northwest corner of the building boasts a three-story vaulted glass triangle. The main floor gallery functions like an airplane hangar with six vintage aircraft suspended from the ceiling.
As explained by John Crocker of Architecture49 in Western Exteriors magazine, “The building design itself takes inspiration from the forms of aircraft and flight. The angled shapes of the windows and entrance canopy reflect the shapes of aircraft wings and the dynamic quality of an aircraft taking off or landing.”
Shortly after we got possession, we brought in a photographer to capture our beautiful new home, designed by Architecture49 and Reich + Petch Architects, and built by PCL Construction.
David Lipnowski took a series of photos highlighting the features and design of the building. Then, we started filling it with aircraft and artefacts, and outfitting our event spaces and gift shop—the Landing Zone Boutique.
To celebrate all the changes that have taken place over the past year, we brought him back to take accompanying ‘after’ shots.
Check out the difference a year makes!
(all photo by David Lipnowski)
(Aircraft pictured: Waco Sesquiplane CF-AYS, Bellanca Aircruiser CF-AWR, de Havilland Canada Beaver C-FMAA, Fokker Super Universal CF-AAM, nose of the Vickers Viscount CF-THS)
(Aircraft featured: de Havilland Canada Beaver C-FMAA, Bellanca Aircruiser CF-AWR
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