Art Gallery of Ontario sets opening date for $73m new wing

The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) will unveil a new five-floor expansion next September, expanding its footprint to 40,000 square feet. The museum, located in Toronto, plans to showcase nearly 400 artworks in the Dani Reiss Modern and Contemporary Gallery, featuring pieces by Indigenous, Canadian, and international artists. The expansion, which began in 2022, was made possible by a $35-million donation from Dani Reiss, the chairperson and CEO of Canada Goose.

The AGO has secured funding to cover ongoing operational expenses from federal and provincial governments, as well as private donors. Designed by Diamond Schmitt, Selldorf Architects, and Two Row Architect, the new addition overlooks Toronto's Grange Park and connects to the museum's existing Frank Gehry-designed building. The expansion was designed to be energy-efficient, earning Zero Carbon Building Design certification, making it the first Canadian cultural institution of its size to achieve this status. This is the seventh expansion the museum has undertaken since its founding in 1900.