ACO Toronto Press Release on Ontario Science Centre

ACOToronto, President Stephanie Mah
Apr 20th, 2023

401 Richmond Street West, Suite 206, Toronto, ON M5V 3A8

T 416.367-8075 ext 204 E info@acotoronto.ca

April 18, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RE: Protecting Ontario Science Centre

ACO Toronto urges the Province of Ontario to repair, restore, and care for the Ontario Science Centre instead ofmoving it to Ontario Place. This important landmark building is currently listed on the City of Toronto's Heritage Register, and we request that the City of Toronto designate the building under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act as it meets multiple criteria for cultural heritage value under O.Reg. 9/06.

The Ontario Science Centre, originally known as the Centennial Centre for Science and Technology (CCST) at 770 Don Mills Road, has significant cultural, social, architectural, and environmental value. Opened in 1969, the Ontario

Science Centre was designed by architect Raymond Moriyama as an Ontario project for the Centennial. It was one of the first interactive science museums in the world and received an OAA Landmark Designation Award. The Imax dome was added by Zeidler Roberts in 1996. In 2017, ACO Toronto hosted our Annual Heritage Symposium "150+" on Centennial projects at the Ontario Science Centre, where award-winning architect Raymond Moriyama spoke about his experience on the ideas behind the building.

This iconic building has been featured in numerous national publications. In the book Canadian Modern Architecture: 1967 to the Present it is argued that "of all the projects completed under the auspices of the Centennial Commission, Raymond Moriyama's, 'CCST' best represents what critic Peter Buchanan described as the "heroic period of Canadian architecture."

Despite this, the building has experienced a severe lack of maintenance in recent years. The pedestrian bridge which links exhibit buildings was deemed unsafe in 2022 and closed. There are no plans in place to repair or replace this structure and visitors are currently moved around the museum via shuttle bus.

Even more concerning is the recent announcement of plans to move the Ontario Science Centre to Ontario Place.

While a satellite expansion of the Centre could be explored, moving the entire program from this building puts both the building and surrounding neighbourhoods at risk. The Ontario Science Centre serves as an important community hub in North York and removing it would directly contradict efforts towards sustainable and equitable city-building. The Flemingdon Park, Thorncliffe Park, and larger Don Mills area is already at risk of losing access to another important cultural space: 123 Wynford Drive, another landmark building designed by Raymond Moriyama, originally the Japanese Cultural Centre now the Noor Cultural Centre, which is planned for redevelopment that will demolish much of the building.

We believe through stewardship, care, and community collaboration, additional housing and new amenities can still be provided elsewhere on this site and in the area, while allowing the Ontario Science Centre building to be restored and maintained as a vibrant cultural hub in North York.

Sincerely,

Stephanie Mah, CAHP

President, ACO Toronto

ACOToronto.ca