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Construction of the Art Gallery of Ontario’s Dani Reiss Modern and Contemporary Gallery has risen above the AGO’s Dundas Street frontage since UrbanToronto’s last update in February, 2025. Designed by Selldorf Architects, Diamond Schmitt Architects, and Two Row Architect, the project adds 40,000ft² of gallery space across five new floors, marking the AGO’s seventh major expansion and cementing its position as Canada’s largest art museum.
The new wing is being constructed above the gallery’s ground-level loading dock and second-level Zacks Galleries, introducing thirteen new gallery spaces that will increase the AGO’s display area by roughly 30%. The interiors are designed with column-free spans to accommodate a wide range of modern and contemporary works.
Looking northeast across Grange Park this month, structural steel now extends three levels above the existing roofline. The framing for the upper gallery floors is in place, with horizontal decking laid out and perimeter safety railings marking the edges. Diagonal bracing and cross-members are visible, reinforcing the cantilevered sections that will eventually step back to form the south-facing terraces. At the top, the open framework outlines the future pergola level.
From a high vantage point looking northwest, the AGO expansion shows the eastern volume now standing at about five storeys, with steel beams outlining the perimeter of the sixth floor as crews prepare for the next stage of framing. Temporary scaffolding encases much of the south end. To the left, the secondary volume has reached three storeys, with the crane at the far right.
Looking east from the AGO staircase, the western wall is covered in white weatherproofing, preparing the surface for zinc and glazed terracotta cladding to follow. A dense scaffold assembly rises to the left, supporting ongoing installation work and tying into the steel-framed structure that bridges toward Frank Gehry’s glass-and-wood addition. At the top, crews operate behind red perimeter fencing.
Later this month, the expansion had climbed above the gallery’s distinctive glass-and-wood visor, with the steel skeleton of the sixth floor now visible. Below, white weatherproofing extends up to the fifth level.
From McCaul Street, the east elevation white weatherproofing now climbs to the fifth floor while the sixth floor framing remains exposed above. Metal stud framing and bracing outline the upper volume. White tarps cover elements at the top as crews prepare the two mechanical penthouse levels, with two steel columns projecting at the centre. To the right, the construction hoist rises behind the crane.
Seen below, the south elevation’s structural frame rises above McCaul Park’s trees, and vertical steel members outline the future gallery spaces. The massing bridges the narrow gap between the AGO’s existing volumes and OCAD University’s main campus. To the left, crews on scissor lifts work along the uppermost level. The structure will ultimately stand taller than Gehry’s blue titanium-clad tower to the west.
Once complete, the addition will stand 48.35m tall.
UrbanToronto will continue to follow progress on this development, but in the meantime, you can learn more about it from our Database file, linked below. If you'd like, you can join in on the conversation in the associated Project Forum thread or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.
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UrbanToronto has a research service, UTPro, that provides comprehensive data on development projects in the Greater Golden Horseshoe — from proposal through to completion. We also offer Instant Reports, downloadable snapshots based on location, and a daily subscription newsletter, New Development Insider, that tracks projects from initial application.
| Related Companies: | Blackwell, Crozier Consulting Engineers, Diamond Schmitt Architects, EllisDon, ERA Architects, MGAC Canada, RWDI Climate and Performance Engineering, Urban Strategies Inc. |
