ACO Toronto - Art Gallery of Ontario

BUILDING INFORMATION

Name & Location:

Art Gallery of Ontario
317 Dundas Street West
Toronto
Kensington-Chinatown

Year Completed:

1918

OTHER IDENTIFICATION

Awards:

1975: Canadian Architect Award

Award of Excellence. For renovations and additional by Parkin Associates

1988: Canadian Architect Award

Award of Excellence. For third phase renovations by Barton Myers and KPMB

Alternate Name:

AGO

Notes:

The Art Gallery of Toronto was originally housed in the Grange, a historical house still connected to the gallery. In 1918 it moved into new galleries on its current site, with expansions in 1926 and in 1935. The building had further expansions in 1977 that almost completely obliterated the earlier buildings, and again in the early 1990's when a new front was added to the building. Finally, the 1990's addition was almost completely removed in 2007-2008 when Transformation AGO occurred, a Frank Gehry-designed addition to the building.

Parkin Associates was given a Canadian Architect Award in 1975 for renovations and additions to this building, and Barton Myers and KPMB were given a Canadian Architect Award of Excellence in 1988 for renovations and additions. In 2009, the building was given an Honourable Mention in the Toronto Urban Design Awards in the category Building in Context - Public.

Status:

Completed

Map:

Loading Map

Companies:

The following companies are associated with this building

Architect - Barton Myers Associates Ltd. <-- More buildings by this architect.
Architect - Frank Gehry <-- More buildings by this architect.
Architect - Darling & Pearson <-- More buildings by this architect.
Architect - John B. Parkin Associates <-- More buildings by this architect.
Construction company - EllisDon Corporation
Electrical engineer - H.H. Angus and Associates Limited
Steel supplier - Benson Steel Limited
Structural engineer - Yolles Group Inc.

BUILDING DATA

Building Type:

Low-rise

Current Use:

Cultural

Heritage Status:

No heritage status

Sources:

Click to see 22 Source(s)

Daily Commercial News and Construction Record
Date - June 14, 2005
Daily Commercial News and Construction Record
Date - September 26, 2006
National Post
Author - Peter Kuitenbrouwer
Date - September 30, 2008
Notes - Article on architectural styles in Toronto, featuring Jack Diamond.
New York Times
Author - Nicolai Ouroussoff
Date - November 14, 2008
Notes - Review of the new addition to the AGO.
The Globe and Mail
Date - December 5, 2008
Page - A15
Notes - Small article about the opening of the staircase in the Walker Court.
The Globe and Mail
Author - James Bradshaw
Date - May 29, 2008
Page - A13
Notes - Article indicating gallery will re-open November 14 with a free week.
The Globe and Mail
Author - James Bradshaw
Date - November 1, 2008
Page - R9
Notes - Graphic with a timeline of the building of the latest additions to the AGO.
The Globe and Mail
Author - James Bradshaw
Date - November 14, 2008
Page - A16
Notes - Article on the opening of the Gehry addition to the AGO.
The Globe and Mail
Author - John Barber
Date - March 31, 2007
Page - M1
Notes - Article contrasting AGO and ROM.
The Globe and Mail
Author - John Barber
Date - November 22, 2008
Page - M3
Notes - Article about opening of gallery with Gehry additions.
The Globe and Mail
Author - Lisa Rochon
Date - December 1, 2007
Page - R1
Notes - Early (positive) review of Gehry's additions to the AGO.
The Globe and Mail
Author - Lisa Rochon
Date - December 29, 2007
Page - R7
Notes - In her annual review of architecture, lauds the Gehry addition to the AGO.
The Globe and Mail
Author - Lisa Rochon
Date - November 8, 2008
Page - R1
Notes - Extensive article on Gehry's addition.
Toronto Architecture: A City Guide
Author - Patricia McHugh
Page - 186
Toronto Society of Architects Guide Map 1953-2003
Toronto Star
Author - Christopher Hume
Date - December 21, 2008
Page - ID3
Notes - In Review of 2008 buildings, recent renovations to the AGO are highlighted and praised.
Toronto Star
Author - Christopher Hume
Date - January 2, 2005
Notes - Article reviewing cultural buildings under construction.
Toronto Star
Author - Christopher Hume
Date - June 18, 2007
Page - A10
Notes - Article about renovations and additions under way.
Toronto Star
Author - Christopher Hume
Date - March 12, 2005
Page - B1
Notes - Article about Gehry's expansion.
Toronto Star
Author - Christopher Hume
Date - November 14, 2008
Page - A18
Notes - Article about the Gehry renovations to the AGO.
Toronto Star
Author - Christopher Hume
Date - November 28, 2009
Page - GT5
Notes - On Review of the Decade in Architecture, this building called one of the ten most important buildings of the last decade.
Toronto Star
Author - Martin Knelman
Date - May 4, 2008
Page - A10
Notes - Article on Barton Myers mentions his addition to the AGO.

Art Gallery of Ontario

Sources for Art Gallery of Ontario

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