A significant chapter in Toronto’s architectural transformation was announced this week: the Province of Ontario has awarded the contract to deliver a new Ontario Science Centre at Ontario Place — a waterfront facility that reimagines how science, design, and public space intersect in the city.

This is more than a building — it’s a civic anchor, a public destination, and a redefinition of how institutional architecture can activate waterfront urbanism.

✔️ Location: Ontario Place, Toronto waterfront — integrating existing heritage pods + the iconic Cinesphere (retained and revitalized).
✔️ Size: ~400,000 sq ft contemporary facility.
✔️ Contract Value: ~$1.04 billion (design-build-finance-maintain fixed price).
✔️ Target Opening: As early as 2029.
✔️ Procurement Model: DBFM — a delivery approach that aligns long-term performance, maintenance, and design excellence under one agreement.

The award went to Ontario Science Partners — a consortium led by Agentis Capital Advisors alongside Sacyr Construction, Amico, and others — with Snøhetta (NY) as Design Architect in collaboration with Hariri Pontarini Architects (Toronto).

The design signals a shift toward open, flexible learning environments that blur interior and exterior boundaries — and maximize views of the waterfront. Large glass facades and elevated walkways will connect the new centre with Ontario Place’s existing structures and public realm.

Importantly, the Pod complex and Cinesphere are not being abandoned — they are being repurposed and upgraded as part of the new science hub, preserving legacy while integrating them into a contemporary campus.

This isn’t just architecture for architecture’s sake — it’s place-making at a civic scale. The centre is positioned as both a cultural destination and a connective piece of a larger Ontario Place revitalization plan that includes parks, gathering spaces, trails, and year-round programming.

For architects, designers, and city builders, this project highlights several big trends:

Rather than demolishing the site entirely, this initiative bridges old and new — preserving iconic structures through retrofit and reintegration while delivering a contemporary facility that meets modern accessibility and learning needs.

Ontario Place is being repositioned from passive recreation land to a multi-program cultural district — with the Science Centre as a civic anchor among parks, trails, event spaces, and transit connections.

Design-Build-Finance-Maintain models are becoming more common for large public projects — tying maintenance and performance into the design phase encourages long-term thinking that can ultimately shape more resilient, context-responsive architecture.

At the news conference, Premier Doug Ford framed the new centre as “a state-of-the-art, fully accessible facility” with sweeping views of Toronto’s skyline.

The Ontario Science Centre Board Chair highlighted the move as a defining moment in the institution’s 55-year history — one that will broaden access and spark curiosity for generations.

Construction mobilization is slated for Spring 2026, with delivery continuing through the latter part of the decade. As design development continues and community programming plans emerge, this project will be one to track — not only for its architectural ambition but for its role in shaping how public institutions can activate and energize cities.

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