AGO South Entrance and Grange Park Pavilions

Toronto, ON

The Art Gallery of Ontario’s (AGO) new south entrance leads visitors from the recently redesigned Grange Park into the Weston Family Learning Centre. The south entrance project adds an additional 4,000 square feet of interior space and features a new and inviting lounge area, a refreshed library space in the E.P. Taylor Library & Archives, and multi-use areas that will feature gallery space and creative programming. The design and carefully curated material palette of the south entrance complements the Weston Family Learning Centre, which was completed by Hariri Pontarini Architects in 2011. The new entrance creates a connection from the AGO to the historic Grange Park, which has been transformed into a welcoming and versatile public area that invites the local community to engage with the new features, pavilions, and landscaped space.

Project Facts
Client
Art Gallery of Ontario
Location
Toronto, ON
Status
Completed 2017
Size
4,000 sq. ft.
Partner
Siamak Hariri
Selected Awards

2019 – City of Toronto, Toronto Urban Design Awards, Award of Excellence, Large Places and/or Neighbourhood Designs

The exterior of the new south entrance features a canopy of Muntz metal, a living material that naturally shifts in colour from gold to bronze.

The rich materials used in the interior, including oak millwork and locally sourced Algonquin limestone, create a seamless extension of the existing space.

HPA designed three pavilions on the east side of the park, which serve as public washrooms, staff areas, and maintenance spaces. The pod-like structures are arranged to highlight the surrounding landscape and integrate into the existing park with a resilient, elegant hardwood exterior.