Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art

Project details

  • Client: Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art
  • Type: General Contractor
  • Address: 111 Queen’s Park, Toronto, ON
  • Size: 46,000 SF

Project description

The Gardiner Museum is one of the world’s pre-eminent institutions devoted to ceramic art. It is the only museum of its kind in Canada and is designated as one of Toronto’s cultural renaissance projects. As General Contractor, the project included the total demolition and renovation of the interior, exterior finishes and front plaza. The renewal builds on top of the original structure, designed by Keith Wagland in 1984.

The third-floor expansion and extension of the original footprint to the street creates a bolder image for the Gardiner, while respecting the intimate scale for which the original building was admired. The front of the museum was completely re-landscaped with a series of terraced platforms that bring the Gardiner to the street. The main building structure was reinforced alongside the massive underpinning of the existing basement to allow for three feet of additional headroom.

The strategic addition of approximately 14,000 SF allows the museum to host international exhibits of contemporary works and to showcase the expanding permanent collection. The design also greatly enhances the museum’s revenue-generating potential with a new retail shop that faces the street, rentable multi-purpose event space and restaurant.

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