Alberta Legislature Building, Parliament building in Edmonton, Canada
The Alberta Legislature Building is a Beaux-Arts parliament building in Edmonton, Canada, marked by a central dome and symmetrical layout. The exterior combines Vancouver Island granite with Glenbow sandstone, and wide porticoes frame the main entrance on all sides.
Construction began in 1907 under architects Allan Merrick Jeffers and Richard Blakey, and the building opened in 1913. The provincial government moved into the new structure, which has served as the home of the legislative assembly ever since.
The building takes its name from the province it serves, and visitors walking through its halls notice elaborate woodwork and brass fittings that mark the ceremonial character of the space. The chambers remain active workplaces where elected representatives gather, and the furnishings reflect parliamentary traditions brought from Britain and adapted over time.
Free guided tours run on weekdays, and visitors can reach the building through the nearby transit station. Public areas remain open during daytime hours, and it helps to allow time for walking through the interior spaces at a relaxed pace.
The floodlights surrounding the building create an optical effect at night where viewers who look directly at them and then glance away see a purple tint in their field of vision. This afterimage surprises many first-time visitors and comes from the way the retina processes bright light.
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