About the Renovation
Since its founding in 1979, the Ontario Museum of History & Art has occupied a historic structure at 225 South Euclid Avenue that originally served as Ontario’s City Hall. Since the facility was not designed as a museum, one of the key elements of the Museum’s strategic plan is to enhance the physical environment of the Museum, including preservation of our historic facility and key enhancements to support improved environmental controls, accessibility, and space usage.
The renovated galleries are expected to open in spring 2027. The Museum will continue to welcome visitors, host school tours, and group visits during the construction period. The gallery renovation project includes:
- Reimagined gallery spaces with improved visitor flow and a more open, welcoming environment
- Expanded and flexible exhibition galleries designed to accommodate a wider range of exhibitions and community programming
- Modernized electrical infrastructure to support current and future exhibition technologies
- New energy-efficient track lighting and upgraded climate-control systems to enhance the visitor experience and improve collections stewardship
- Contemporary gallery finishes, including wall surfaces, flooring, and updated window treatments that balance natural light and exhibition needs
- A transformed Museum entrance featuring a welcoming visitor services desk and digital display for exhibitions, programs, and events
- A refreshed Museum store with enhanced merchandise displays, improved lighting, and updated fixtures
- Dedicated exhibition preparation and storage spaces that strengthen the Museum's ability to develop, install, and care for exhibitions