The Royal Ontario Museum Opens its Doors Wider
With an Important Revitalization Project
ROM’s Welcome Project re-opens Weston Entrance on Queen’s Park
TORONTO, May 9, 2017 – The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is pleased to announce that it is re-opening the Museum’s heritage Weston Entrance, an important component of the ROM’s Welcome Project that will enhance the ROM’s role as a vital civic hub for visitors and offer greater access to Canada's pre-eminent museum. Slated for completion in September 2017, the re-opening of the entrance on Queen’s Park is timed to coincide with Canada’s 150 celebrations. This revitalization project was made possible by The W. Garfield Weston Foundation and through a $1.5 million investment by the Government of Ontario.
“Opening the doors to Queen’s Park is part of the ROM's ongoing transformation as a 21st century museum, one that both respects our heritage and looks forward to the future,” says Josh Basseches, ROM Director and CEO. “This project opens up the ROM — both literally and symbolically — to our community, offering visitors better access to their Museum and builds on our commitment to create an exceptional visitor experience. We are very grateful to The W. Garfield Weston Foundation and the Government of Ontario for making this part of the project possible.”
Weston Entrance Re-Opening
The revitalization of the Museum's landmark Queen’s Park façade is designed by renowned Toronto architect Siamak Hariri of Hariri Pontarini Architects. With these renovations, the Weston Entrance becomes one of two public entry points to the Museum. The reconstruction includes extending, refurbishing and heating the limestone steps to create a welcoming public gathering place that complements the Bloor St. Michael Lee-Chin Crystal Entrance, on the building’s north side. The refurbishments also include new accessibility ramps to provide even greater access for those using wheelchairs or using strollers.
Contemporary glass doors will offer clear views into the Museum’s historic Rotunda and through to the Samuel Hall 
Currelly Gallery. The Hilary and Galen Weston Wing and The Weston Family Wing will also be illuminated by new architectural lighting at night to enhance the ROM’s historic façade. New landscaping will provide more green space on the grounds facing Queen’s Park and draw visitors to the redesigned entrance.
Opening an additional entrance re-connects the Museum to one of the Canada’s most prominent addresses, while giving visitors convenient access from Queen's Park and the Museum subway station. Once inside, visitors can purchase admission tickets for access to the Museum’s more than 40 gallery and exhibition spaces.
“I am delighted that our government is investing in the reopening and enhancement of the ROM’s stunning heritage entrance,” said Minister McMahon, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. “As we celebrate Ontario’s 150th anniversary, it is projects like this that help us honour our past, showcase our present and inspire future generations.”
This phase of The Welcome Project has been made possible through the generosity of many donors, with special thanks to the Ivey Foundation and the Department of Museum Volunteers.
The Welcome Project will encompass a number of other initiatives that will enhance the ROM’s presence on the Bloor Street corridor. These include the Helga and Mike Schmidt Performance Terrace, and additional landscape design elements that will enhance the Museum’s public and green spaces. Further details will be announced soon.
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Media Contact
Amanda Fruci, Communications Manager
amandaf@rom.on.ca
416.586.5558
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ABOUT THE ROM
Opened in 1914, the ROM showcases art, culture, and nature across time and around the globe. Among North America’s most renowned museums, the ROM is Canada’s largest with the dual mandate of natural history and world cultures. The Renaissance ROM expansion project (2007) preserved the best of the Museum’s beautiful historic architecture while merging its iconic heritage building with the Studio Daniel Libeskind-designed Michael Lee-Chin Crystal. The ROM is the country’s largest field research institution and an international leader in areas encompassing the visual arts, material culture and archaeology, biodiversity, palaeontology, and earth sciences — originating new information towards a global understanding of historical and modern change in the natural and cultural worlds. For tickets and 24-hour information in English and French, visit www.rom.on.ca or call 416.586.8000. For Membership enquiries, please call 416.586.5700.