Ontario Announces $1.04 Billion Science Centre Project

Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced Thursday that construction will begin this spring on a new Ontario Science Centre at Ontario Place on Toronto's waterfront, with the project awarded to a consortium for 1.04 billion dollars and a potential completion date as early as 2029.

The contract goes to Ontario Science Partners, which includes Hariri Pontarini Architects, the firm behind recent renovations of the McMichael Canadian Art Collection and Stratford's Tom Patterson Theatre. Ford described the design as "stunning" and "world class" during a morning press conference, adding that it evokes the Sydney Opera House. He noted the facility's role in transforming Toronto into a city with top-tier attractions, a vision he said he held since his time as a city councillor.

The new centre will span 400,000 square feet, including a 220,000-square-foot building with 120,000 square feet dedicated to exhibits. It will integrate existing Ontario Place features, such as science programming in the site's iconic pods and upgraded IMAX experiences in the Cinesphere. Paul Kortenaar, CEO of the Ontario Science Centre, stated that the new home offers "limitless potential" to bring science to life in...