Located in Toronto, Canada, the Ontario Science Centre was designed by Diamond and Schmitt Architects is one of the world’s leading facilities of its kind, welcoming on average a million visitors a year. The Weston Family Innovation Centre is helping to establish a kind of Science Centre experience where visitors are encouraged to use their creativity and imagination. The firm was responsible for the renovation of two components, the first being a comprehensive renovation of all major public service areas including the Great Hall, bridges and the valley escalators. The renovations culminate at a new central orientation room, called the Hot Zone, on the valley floor, which provides access to three new major exhibit halls. This second component is a complete reinterpretation of the Hall of Technology, transforming it into the new Centre for Innovation and Learning. Exhibits incorporate state of the art interactivity with artists, scientists and researchers.
The facilities of the Centre offer an unprecedented opportunity to expand the Ontario Science Centre’s visitor base, establish partnerships with various corporate and research communities and maximize the Centre’s impact on Canada’s education system. The new interactive and flexible exhibit space provide visitors’ with the tools and opportunities to evolve, test new ideas and become creative problem solvers. It is a place where science meets art and where innovative thinking, creativity and problem solving are stimulated – making the Science Centre even more relevant to today’s world. The rest of the Science Centre was designed by architect Raymond Moriyama and the Shoppers Drug Mart® OMNIMAX® Theatre was designed by architect Eberhart Zeidler.
