Toronto’s Art Gallery of Ontario and its architectural partners revealed initial designs for the Dani Reiss Modern and Contemporary Gallery, the museum’s expansion project. The addition increases the museum’s gallery space by 40,000 square feet, with at least 13 new galleries across five floors, increasing the total space available to display art by 30 percent.

© Rendering by Play-Time, courtesy of Art Gallery of Ontario, Diamond Schmitt, Selldorf Architects and Two Row Architect

Launching this project is a monumental lead gift of $35 million from Dani Reiss, among the largest gifts in AGO’s history. Dani is the chairman and CEO of Canada Goose, member of the Order of Canada and an art collector. The size and timing of this gift will help AGO move the project forward with confidence.

From the exterior, the expansion will quietly complement the AGO’s existing built environment, respecting the scale of the surrounding neighborhood. The Dani Reiss Modern and Contemporary Gallery will sit one story above AGO’s existing loading dock. It will seamlessly connect to, and be accessed by, AGO’s existing galleries from four locations, substantially improving visitor circulation throughout the museum.

© Rendering courtesy of Art Gallery of Ontario, Diamond Schmitt, Selldorf Architects, and Two Row Architect

Inside Dani Reiss Modern and Contemporary Gallery, at least 13 exhibition spaces of varying scale and ceiling height are being designed. These new column-free galleries will be highly functional and flexible, as well as dynamic enough to display the works of today’s great modern and contemporary artists, and adaptable to the needs of future generations of artists working across all media. Galleries are being designed to adjust to the needs of the program — as large open spaces or easily divided into a series of more intimate galleries.

Initiated in 2022, the design of Dani Reiss Modern and Contemporary Gallery is being informed by ongoing consultation with Indigenous leaders and communities, led by Two Row Architect. These conversations and others are instrumental in leading the team to adopt adaptability, accessibility, relevancy, zero carbon operating and inclusivity as guiding principles. AGO has the support of Chief R. Stacey Laforme of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (Toronto’s Host Nation).

© Rendering by Play-Time, courtesy of Art Gallery of Ontario, Diamond Schmitt, Selldorf Architects and Two Row Architect

Dani Reiss Modern and Contemporary Gallery is designed to operate without burning fossil fuel. The all-electric mechanical plant will use no operational carbon and create no emissions, all while seeking CAGBC Zero Carbon Operating Building certification, making it one of an exceedingly small number of museum spaces to accomplish this. It will also be built to Passive House standards for maximum heating and cooling efficiency.

Construction is expected to commence in 2024, with estimated construction development costs at this early stage being approximately $100 million.