NEWS PLANNING
February 26, 2026 105
Province awards contract for new science center at Ontario Place
A new chapter opens at Ontario Place for the Ontario Science Center as the province has released final designs and awarded a $1.04 billion firm-fixed-price contract to deliver the long-planned waterfront facility. The 400,000 sq ft complex will be constructed under a design-build-finance-maintenance agreement between Infrastructure Ontario and private partners Ontario Science Partners, a consortium led by Agentis Capital Advisors, Amico Infrastructures, Sacyr Construction and John Laing Ltd. The New York office of Snøhetta from Norway, working with Hariri Pontarini Architects from Toronto, is the design architect. The contract includes a maintenance period of 30 years, which, in addition to the provision of capital, will also include the long-term maintenance of the building.
A bird’s eye view looking south of the Ontario Science Center at Ontario Place, designed by Snøhetta and Hariri Pontarini Architects for the Province of Ontario, Infrastructure Ontario, Amico Infrastructures and John Laing Limited
The announcement was made today at Ontario Place, where Prime Minister Doug Ford was joined by Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, and John Carmichael, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ontario Science Centre. Scheduled to open as early as 2029, the project will replace the former Don Mills home with a structure connected via an extended elevated walkway to the existing Ontario Place pods and a revitalized Cinesphere.
Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, speaks to participants, picture by Anthony Teles
The campus would center on a modern, 400,000-square-foot, four-story building on the mainland that would house exhibitions, flexible learning environments, and expanded workshop spaces, somehow providing more space for programming than the previous 550,000-square-foot facility. Ontario Place’s existing pods would be restored and retrofitted as fully modernized academic and ancillary use environments.
The Cinesphere would see interior and exterior improvements as well as updates to its IMAX theater systems. The seating capacity at the Cinesphere would be double that of the former OMNIMAX Theater at the Science Center’s previous location. The new facility will meet current accessibility standards and seek accessibility certification from the Rick Hansen Foundation.
A bird’s-eye view looking northeast of the Ontario Science Center at Ontario Place, designed by Snøhetta and Hariri Pontarini Architects for the Province of Ontario, Infrastructure Ontario, Amico Infrastructures and John Laing Limited
“The new science center will be housed in a state-of-the-art, fully accessible facility with … modern, light-filled spaces overlooking Toronto’s waterfront and skyline,” Ford said.
Beyond the architecture, the province is presenting the new location as a renewal of the science center’s educational mission. The expanded facility would host hands-on exhibitions, workshops and interactive programs, with expanded opportunities for experiential learning. A preliminary 86,000-square-foot Harbourfront Center location is scheduled to open this summer.
View northeast of the Ontario Science Center at Ontario Place, designed by Snøhetta and Hariri Pontarini Architects for the Province of Ontario, Infrastructure Ontario, Amico Infrastructures and John Laing Limited
“Today’s announcement is truly a milestone for the Ontario Science Center and for our province,” said board chair John Carmichael, adding that the institution now “has a bold and vibrant future ahead of it here in the heart of the reimagined Ontario Place.” Cho noted, “For more than 55 years, the Science Center has been one of Ontario’s most valuable cultural and public assets… and now it is time to turn our attention to the next 55 years.”
Atrium at the Ontario Science Center at Ontario Place, designed by Snøhetta and Hariri Pontarini Architects for the Province of Ontario, Infrastructure Ontario, Amico Infrastructures and John Laing Limited
The new science center is part of a major redevelopment of Ontario Place. More than 50 acres of publicly accessible open space are planned, including expanded green spaces, lakefront hiking and biking trails, playgrounds, interactive water features and new urban beaches connected by boardwalks and bridges. The East Island is planned to house family-oriented activity zones and event spaces, while the marina is planned to be modernized with upgraded boat slips and adjacent public gathering areas.
The RBC Amphitheater, the redesign of the Budweiser Stage, is planned to operate as a year-round venue with increased capacity. The Therme Group’s spa and water park complex on the West Island. Other features include a revitalized marina district and new event spaces. The broader site is coordinated with major transit investments, including the western terminus of Ontario Line 3, which is currently under construction alongside an expanded Exhibition station that will also expand GO train service.
Ontario Place, Toronto master redevelopment plan, image via Infrastructure Ontario
“The revitalized Ontario Place will attract up to six million visitors per year, create 5,700 jobs and add $420 million to Ontario’s GDP during construction,” said Ford. “This will be built by Ontario workers, using Ontario steel, lumber and other products wherever we can, so Ontario’s tax dollars support Ontario workers.”
During question period, Ford was pressed on the decision to close the former Don Mills plant. “As prime minister, I won’t take any risks,” he said, adding that “the same roof structures have collapsed in many places around the world. It’s unsafe.” He addressed suggestions that the original building could have been retained or rebuilt, arguing that “it would probably take twice as long to tear it down and try to rebuild it.”
The west island of Ontario Place is being leveled and cleared of its former vegetation as it is prepared for construction of Therme Spa, image by hawc, UrbanToronto Forum contributor
Questions were also raised about the proposed parking structure at Ontario Place. “It will generate tremendous revenue…hopefully the majority will use public transit, but many will park,” Ford said. Groundbreaking for the new facility is expected in the spring.
Ontario Place parking structure concept, image via Infrastructure Ontario
UrbanToronto will continue to monitor the progress of these developments, but in the meantime you can learn more in our database files linked below. If you’d like, you can join the discussions in the associated Project Forum threads or leave a comment in the designated area on this page.
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