Toronto-based firm Hariri Pontarini Architects (HPA) has been chosen to lead the redevelopment of the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, home to one of the world’s premier collections of Canadian and Indigenous art. The renewal aims to transform the McMichael into a “world-class museum for the 21st century — a beacon of accessibility, environmental sustainability and artistic excellence,” according to a release.
The project marks the first major revitalization of the site in over 40 years and is supported by a $50 million commitment from the Government of Ontario and $25 million in federal funding. Located in the Humber River Valley, the museum features modernist timber-and-stone architecture with low rooflines.
The redevelopment will expand space for exhibitions, education, conservation, and public programming, and will include classrooms and studios to nurture emerging Canadian artists. Purpose-built facilities for events, concerts, lectures, conferences, and banqueting, including a new indoor theatre, will also be added. The project will adhere to Canada Green Building Council Zero Carbon Design Standards.
Originally constructed in the 1950s as the private home of founders Robert and Signe McMichael, the museum now houses more than 7,000 artworks by Tom Thomson, the Group of Seven, Indigenous artists, and creators from Canada’s diverse diasporic communities.
“We have fallen in love with the vision set before us by the McMichael, as home to the art of Canada. The big, sturdy roof automatically says ‘home,’ but it also says longhouse, or cabin in the woods. From the approach, the roof hugs the ground making it welcoming, intimate, warm and inviting. But as you enter, the experience explodes, engaging the extraordinary setting in a number of surprising moments with a rare and uniquely Canadian combination of nature and art,” said Siamak Hariri, founding partner, Hariri Pontarini Architects.
The redevelopment will increase capacity for existing programs, meetings, and special events while ensuring the McMichael remains a safe, must-visit destination for arts and culture for years to come. Renovations and repairs to existing spaces are also planned.
Project Details:
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Project Type: Addition
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Building Use: Museum
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Sector: Public – State/Provincial
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Project Value: 50,000,000 Canadian dollars
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Key Features: Expansion of exhibition, education, conservation, and public programming spaces; classrooms and studios; indoor theatre; event and banqueting spaces
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Sustainability: Built to Canada Green Building Council Zero Carbon Design Standards
Image Courtesy: Daily Commercial News by ConstructConnect
