Here’s what the new Science Centre at Ontario Place will look like

Final designs for a new Ontario Science Centre at Ontario Place in Toronto have been released.

Today, the Ontario government unveiled the final design and announced that it has awarded the contract to build and maintain the new Ontario Science Centre.

The old Ontario Science Centre closed at 770 Don Mills Rd. in June 2024 due to what provincial infrastructure officials said were structural issues with the roof. However, after a record snowfall this January, Liberal MPP Dr. Adil Shamji who represents Don Valley East, noted the roof appeared to be in no danger of collapsing.

The $1.04 billion contract to design, build, finance and maintain the new Ontario Science Centre facility has been awarded to the Ontario Science Partners, a collaboration that includes Hariri Pontarini Architects, the design firm leading the redevelopment of the McMichael Canadian Art Collection and OpenROM, the province said. Other notable projects led by the firm include the Tom Patterson Theatre in Stratford, Ontario.

The new 400,000-square-foot fully accessible facility will include a mainland building, an integrated pod complex, new interactive exhibits and an improved and upgraded Cinesphere, the province said.

“With state-of-the-art facilities that offer more space for visitors, interactive exhibits and programming, the new Ontario Science Centre will continue five decades of tradition, inspiring the next generation of young people,” said Premier Doug Ford. “As part of the revitalized Ontario Place, the Science Centre will be a historic landmark on Toronto’s waterfront and skyline, attracting millions of visitors a year.”

Features include:

• A 220,000-square-foot state-of-the-art building on the mainland, designed to accommodate programming, exhibitions and visitor experiences
• approximately 120,000 square feet dedicated to exhibits, learning activities and educational workshops
• Fully modernized and retrofitted pods for new science-themed experiences
• Acoustic enhancements to the iconic Cinesphere and its world-leading IMAX facilities, as well as interior/exterior repairs. The theatre will have double the seating of the former OMNIMAX Theatre at the old Ontario Science Centre.

Enlarged and modernized exhibition spaces will be filled with natural light and panoramic views of Toronto’s waterfront. The new facility will meet all accessibility requirements and seek Rick Hansen Foundation accessibility certification, which measures the level of meaningful access of buildings and sites, the province said.

The province also said the Cinesphere  improvements will ensure the theatre remains a modern, accessible standalone venue within Ontario Place, coordinating with the Ontario Science Centre on programming and supporting festivals, events and film-related programming.

“The Ontario Science Centre’s future is so exciting with limitless potential for unforgettable programming,” said Paul Kortenaar, CEO of the Ontario Science Centre. “Our future home will bring science to life in an inclusive and playful way, where visitors, including teachers and students, can experience the wonder of science.”

The new Ontario Science Centre is part of the province’s vision for a revitalized Ontario Place, transforming it into a vibrant, year-round waterfront destination.

The site will feature a controversial, privately-operated spa, more than 50 acres of free public trails, expanded green space, playgrounds, interactive fountains, new beaches, event spaces, a modernized marina and the redesigned RBC Amphitheatre, a dynamic new venue for music fans and artists.

The new Ontario Science Centre could be completed by 2029.

Renderings and map: Province of Ontario