Projects

Art Gallery of Ontario (Heritage)

Completion: January 31, 2008

Location: Toronto

Total Construction Value: $110,000,000

Size: 287000 sq. ft.

The transformed Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) Heritage Building - was designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry and is acknowledged as one of Canada’s premier cultural spaces. Its new glass and titanium facade rises 21 metres above street level, enclosing a 137-metre sculpture gallery that connects all the front gallery spaces. The re-orientated main entrance flows into Walker Court, the historic center of the AGO, where the signature staircase of scultped Douglas fir rises to the upper galleries.

Transformation AGO increased the available gallery space by 40% overall and added a two-level gift and book shop, an award-winning restaurant, and a cafe integrated with the members' lounge and the Jackman Theatre. The project completed in 2008, and the revitalized building is one of the largest galleries in North America - an architectural masterpiece that is home to a world-class collection of art.

Mechanical Systems

This high-profile project required mechanical systems of significant complexity and gave Kelson an exceptional opportunity to demonstrate our technical expertise and commitment to high standards.

  • Due to the complex steel construction of this project, we were called on to provide exemplary coordination to ensure that the mechanical equipment and services were fully integrated into the erection steel drawings.
  • The entire ceiling of the mechanical room was an acoustic plenum with multiple services below and within the insulated panels. We therefore coordinated and installed all hanging in advance of the plenums.
  • In collaboration with EllisDon we resolved humidification control during construction to ensure that the adjacent buildings were not affected. We used temporary enclosures and monitoring points that triggered an alarm if humidification levels were becoming critical.

Project Highlights

2008 TCA “Best of the Best” Award