Royal Ontario Museum
Architect Daniel Libeskind’s extension to the Royal Ontario Museum has been under critical siege since the moment plans were unveiled in 2002. Many local observers find the structure’s severe angles, jutting crystalline forms and leaning walls sensationalist at best and oppressive at its worst. But many love the building for its gutsy break from the grid and forthright determination to put Toronto on the international architectural map. The best way to decide who’s right is to visit the building. While an earlier extension of the ROM was demolished to make way for Libeskind’s upgrade, the original museum remains intact. The Crystal occupies the north portion of the site and looks a lot like an anodized-aluminum iceberg moored at the corner of Bloor Street and Avenue Road. Libeskind’s structure doesn’t actually touch the existing heritage building except where there are pedestrian walkways – a design that is intent on letting the new stand side-by-side with the old. A four-storey-high lobby leads to three gallery levels that together make up 65,227-square-metres of space for displaying the ROM’s collection of over 6-million artifacts, including the beloved dinosaur collection. Galleries within are connected by a system of catwalks, corridors and off-kilter transitions that together connect the five structures into one crystalline form. C5, a high-end restaurant, is located on the top floor and a gift shop is on street level.
Royal Ontario Museum
100 Queen's Park (Map It)
416 586 8000
MON-THU 10-5:30, FRI 10-9:30, SAT & SUN 10-5:30
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