Project Description
OpenROM is an ambitious initiative to transform the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) into an open, accessible cultural and civic hub in Toronto’s heart. Led by Canadian firm Hariri Pontarini Architects, the project features a dramatic reimagining of the Museum’s core, including a new Bloor Street entrance that will seamlessly connect with the surrounding neighborhood. This revitalization includes a striking floor-to-ceiling glass entryway under a large canopy, creating direct sightlines into and out of the building, and a unique water feature that wraps around the heritage façade, evolving with the seasons from flowing water in summer to frozen formations in winter.
Inside, the redesigned main floor will offer a bright, spacious foyer filled with artworks, artifacts, and specimens, setting the tone for the enhanced visitor experience. At the heart of the new ROM, the Hennick Commons will feature a four-storey atrium capped with a high-performance diagrid glass ceiling, creating a sunlit 2,400-square-foot forum for year-round free programming, live performances, and community gatherings. Adjacent to the forum, a multi-level "lily pad" staircase will provide accessible overlook platforms, knitting together the Museum’s old and new wings for improved visitor flow throughout the building.
In addition to these architectural enhancements, the project will expand the Museum’s exhibition space by 6,000 square feet on the second and third levels, allowing more of ROM’s world-class collections to be displayed. Phase 1B of the renovations focuses on the main entrance area and includes a new 200-seat forum, non-gendered washrooms, and renovations to the Hyacinth Gloria Chen Court on Level 1. Modifications to the heritage façade and connections to the feature staircase landings will be completed on Levels 2 and 3, with a new skylight installed on Level 4 to introduce more natural light into the Museum’s core.
Construction began in February 2024 and will continue over three years, with the Museum remaining open to visitors throughout, accessed via the Weston Entrance on Queen’s Park. This visionary project will redefine the ROM experience, making it a welcoming, accessible, and dynamic space for all to explore and engage with culture, history, and science.
Image Credit: Royal Ontario Museum