Ontario Construction News staff writer
The McMichael Canadian Art Collection will temporarily close on July 26 as it prepares for the largest redevelopment in its 60-year history, a $125-million expansion and renewal project designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects.
The Kleinburg gallery will close at the end of the day on July 26, with construction scheduled to begin in fall 2026 and continue through 2029.
The project will expand the museum by about 60 per cent through a combination of new construction and renovations, marking the first major investment in the facility in more than four decades.
Designed by Toronto-based Hariri Pontarini Architects, the redevelopment will add new exhibition galleries, classrooms, artist studios, art conservation facilities, and spaces for public programs, events and dining. The project will also replace aging building systems while preserving the gallery’s signature timber-and-stone architecture and low-profile design.
The redevelopment carries a price tag of more than $125 million, supported by up to $50 million from the Ontario government, a $25-million contribution from the federal government’s Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program and more than $50 million raised through private donations.
The project is also designed to meet the Canada Green Building Council’s Zero Carbon Building Standards by incorporating energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable building features.
Before the closure, visitors are being encouraged to view the gallery’s collection of nearly 8,000 works, including paintings by Tom Thomson, the Group of Seven, Indigenous artists and artists representing Canada’s diverse cultural communities.
Although the gallery will be closed during construction, the McMichael said much of its collection will remain accessible through travelling exhibitions across Canada and internationally. Educational programming will also continue through schools and community organizations.
When the gallery reopens in 2029, the expanded facility will provide significantly more space for exhibitions, education and community programming while enhancing its role as a cultural destination in York Region.
The Ontario government said the investment will help protect the gallery’s art collection, valued at approximately $750 million, while supporting future growth. The completed project is also expected to generate an additional $20 million annually in visitor spending for the surrounding region.
Founded in 1966 after Robert and Signe McMichael donated their home, land and art collection to the Province of Ontario, the McMichael Canadian Art Collection is now an agency of Ontario’s Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming and is internationally recognized for its collection of Canadian and Indigenous art.
