Yellowknife (Jan 10/07) - The auditorium of the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre will reopen this month, completing a three-year, $9.6 million renovation project.

"This means we're back in business," said Charles Arnold, museum director.

The museum was closed last summer for renovations, during the city's busiest tourist season. Although the museum began reopening galleries in September, parts of the building were still closed to the public as renovations were completed.

"The whole renovation required us to be flexible in our approach," said Arnold.

With the auditorium closed, staff had to schedule activities in other parts of the museum.

Now the museum will again have a regular venue for Amazing Family Sundays, a set of weekly family-oriented activities.

Other events, such as lectures and meetings, will also return to the auditorium.

More than 25-years-old, the building required renovations to update the mechanical and electrical systems.

Work done in the auditorium included reinforcing the walls, adding a sprinkler system, and installing new windows and carpeting.

The overall circular design of the auditorium, with its half-moon stage, remained the same.

The museum's renovations began in October 2003. Some minor work remains to be done, but Arnold said the larger projects were all finished by Dec. 15, 2006, as scheduled.