Dani Reiss Modern and Contemporary Gallery
WINNER OF A 2025 CANADIAN ARCHITECT AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
The expansion of this iconic gallery—already defined by multiple additions and an expressive façade—demonstrates exceptional composure and restraint. The jury commends the new addition for establishing a distinct architectural identity, while engaging the existing structures in a complimentary dialogue. Despite its substantial scale, the disciplined massing is contextually responsive while its innovative terracotta cladding both advances the project’s ambitious environmental performance and draws intelligently on Indigenous cultural references. – Kelly Buffey, juror
LOCATION Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, Ontario
The AGO Dani Reiss Modern and Contemporary Gallery is a 3,700-square-metre expansion to the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO). Designed to be inclusive and accessible, the addition increases the AGO’s total gallery space available to display art by 30%.
From the exterior, the expansion quietly complements the AGO’s existing built environment, respecting the scale of the surrounding neighbourhood. The addition sits one storey above the AGO’s existing loading dock, nestled between the AGO and OCAD University. It is accessed by the AGO’s existing galleries from four locations, improving visitor circulation throughout the museum. Its exterior is clad with a clay-based terracotta façade, developed in partnership with Indigenous-led architectural firm Two Row Architect. The pattern of the cladding is inspired by the intricate patterns of Wampum belts.
Inside, the Dani Reiss Modern and Contemporary Gallery includes 13 new exhibition spaces of varying scale and ceiling height, located across five floors. Designed as column-free galleries, they can function either as large open spaces or be divided into a series of more intimate galleries. These highly functional and very flexible spaces are 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. A new south-facing terrace will offer views of the Toronto skyline, while serving as an outdoor sculpture gallery and event space, allowing for new kinds of artistic and community engagement at the museum.
The museum’s mechanical plant is all-electric, and will be built to Passive House standards, with exceptional insulation and minimized thermal bridging. The addition is seeking CAGBC Zero Carbon Building Design certification, which would make it one of a very small number of museum spaces to accomplish this. To achieve significant reductions in its carbon footprint, the design employs low-embodied carbon terracotta cladding and reduced concrete thicknesses in floor slabs and footings, specifies low-carbon concrete and electric arc-furnace structural steel, and includes low-carbon insulation.
The design of the Dani Reiss Modern and Contemporary Gallery is being informed by ongoing consultation with Indigenous leaders and communities. These conversations and others are instrumental in leading the team to adopt adaptability, accessibility, relevancy, zero-carbon design and inclusivity as guiding principles.
CLIENT Art Gallery of Ontario | ARCHITECT TEAM Diamond Schmitt—Donald Schmitt (FRAIC), Michael Leckman (MRAIC), Amir Azadeh, Nilsa Calvo, Michelle Chan, Martin Gauthier, Laura Hutchinson, Dan Klinck (MRAIC), Garth Zimmer. Selldorf Architects—Annabelle Selldorf, Sara Lopergolo, Oliver Link, Kristine Makwinski, Susan Parapetti, Beatrix Casiano. Two Row Architect—Brian Porter, Erik Skouris | STRUCTURAL Blackwell | MECHANICAL The Mitchell Partnership (Now BPA)| ELECTRICAL Smith + Andersen | LANDSCAPE PFS Studio | CODE AND ACCESSIBILITY LMDG | CIVIL CF Crozier | ACOUSTIC RWDI | SUSTAINABILITY AND BUILDING ENVELOPE RDH | ELEVATOR KJA Consultants, Inc. | SIGNAGE AND WAYFINDING Frontier | COST Hanscomb Ltd. | SPECIFICATIONS Brian Ballantyne Specifications (BBS)| GEOTECHNICAL EXP | LIGHTING Gabriel MacKinnon Inc | CONTRACTOR EllisDon | AREA 5,575 m2 | BUDGET $100 M | STATUS Under construction | ANTICIPATED COMPLETION 2027
PROJECTED ENERGY USE INTENSITY (EUI) 302.4 kWh/m2/year | PROJECTED THERMAL ENERGY DEMAND INTENSITY (TEDI) 180.7 kWh/m2/year | GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS INTENSITY (GHGI) 15 kg CO2e/m2
As featured in the Canadian Architect December 2025 Awards of Excellence issue.
Read our jury’s full comments here.
You can see all of the 2025 Canadian Architect Awards of Excellence winners here.
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