Michael Lewis
Special to Ontario Construction Report
Ontario has broken ground on the new Ontario Science Centre, a 400,000-square foot attraction set to open in 2029.
The centre will replace the previous Science Centre located near Toronto’s Don Valley Parkway that was closed in 2024 after an engineering consultant’s report said its roof was at risk of caving in.
The province estimates that comprehensive upgrades at the shuttered facility would cost at least $478 million, although independent assessments suggest critical roof repairs could be completed for no more than $40 million.
Ontario Science Partners, a consortium that includes Sacyr Canada, Amico Design Build and Hariri Pontarini Architects, has been awarded the contract to design and build the facility. The province has estimated the cost at $1.04 billion, although Ontario’s auditor general has said the final price tag will likely be higher.
The new Science Centre will feature a state-of-the-art mainland building, integrated pod complex, new interactive exhibits, an upgraded Cinesphere and more programming space than at the previous site, Premier Doug Ford said in a statement.
“Our government is proud to get shovels in the ground on the new Science Centre, as part of the revitalized Ontario Place, as we build a historic landmark on Toronto’s skyline that will attract millions of visitors a year,” the statement says, calling the facility a cornerstone of Ontario Place.
The province’s PC government says construction and tourism activity at the centre will support more than 1,000 jobs while the overall Ontario Place redevelopment will create 5,700 jobs and add $420 million to Ontario GDP during construction.
The Premier at a press event said at least 120,000 square feet of the new Science Centre will be dedicated to exhibit space, including the mainland building with interactive exhibits, learning activities and educational workshops.
Renovated pods will be modernized to create new science-themed experiences while the Cinesphere will be upgraded with acoustic enhancements to its IMAX theatre and to double the seating of the former OMNIMAX auditorium.
Tourism Minister Stan Cho has said the new facility, situated on the Lake Ontario waterfront near the future Ontario Line Exhibition Subway Station, Go Transit and Billy Bishop Airport, will be about 100,000 square feet smaller than the previous centre, but will make more efficient use of space.
Ontario Science Partners, a collaboration that includes constructors Sacyr Canada and Amico Design Build along with Hariri Pontarini Architects, has been awarded a contract to build the facility. The province has estimated the cost at $1.04 billion, although the province’s auditor general in a report said the price tag will be higher.
The new Ontario Science Centre is part of the government’s vision for Ontario Place that will include a spa, parking garage, redesigned amphitheatre and more than 50 acres of public trails, but where more than 800 mature trees were removed to allow the redevelopment. Once complete, Ontario Place will welcome up to six million visitors per year, the province says.
“Today represents an exciting step forward for the new Ontario Science Centre, where we will continue to inspire a sense of wonder and discovery for generations to come,” said Science Centre CEO Paul Kortenaar. “We can’t wait to welcome families, teachers and students, and visitors from around the world for incredible science learning experiences.”