An international procurement process to find contractors to design and build the new Royal Alberta Museum in Edmonton, Canada, has been launched by the Government of Alberta.

The new CA$340m (£212.3m, EUR237.9m, US$347.7m) attraction will double the size of the existing museum and will showcase the province's history and natural environment. A Request for Qualifications stage is currently open until 22 June for interested bidders to submit proposals, form which up to five will be selected to submit further plans.

It is anticipated that the project contract will be awarded in September, with the Government of Alberta expecting the new Royal Alberta Museum to open in 2015. Ray Danyluk, minister of infrastructure, said: "We will be engaging the skill, creativity, and vision of international architects and engineers to deliver a museum that reflects both the passion of Albertans for Alberta's nature and culture."