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Addition to the Royal Ontario Museum

Toronto
Ontario

Site manager Brian Penny of Walters Inc. looks over the construction of the complex diagrid.

Site manager Brian Penny of Walters Inc. looks over the construction of the complex diagrid. In spite of the angularity of the pieces, the fabricators use normative "tools" such as the carpenter The construction of the Crystal that surrounds the concrete exit tower begins in Fall 2004. A view down on the truss ring that surrounds the exit tower. The main stair can be seen sitting inside of the first crystal. Construction continues throughout Fall 2004. The angularity of the diagrid gives strength to the crystalline structure, but its eccentricity makes for challenges on all fronts. With the first crystal complete, construction continues to fill in the balance of the site. A view from the third floor of the museum down into the site mid Fall 2004. The ironworkers must work as a team in order to orchestrate the erection of the many odd-sized pieces. A piece of the diagrid is lifted. The pieces were shipped as straight lengths and assembled into V shapes on site. Since all of the "column" type pieces are angled, great care must be taken to find the balance point when lifting the piece so that it can slide into position. Work proceeds through the winter of 2005. A view down through the central atrium space after a heavy snow. Many of the pieces were given familiar names. This is the "owl An ironworker assists in the connection of a piece of the diagrid. Pieces sit in the staging area waiting for a lift. Ironworkers ready a complex piece for lifting. Some site work is required to ready the pieces for erection. Ironworkers are securely tied off to conform to safety regulations. Another piece is lifted from the staging area. A view from the roof down onto the structure, late spring 2005. The apex of a diagrid. The connections are complex and were calculated using proprietary software by the fabricators, Walters Inc. An ironworker receives the end of a beam as it is erected. The staging area adjacent to Bloor Street is extremely limited. All of the pieces are delivered and queued so that rearranging is not necessary. A view of the interior of the museum as the floors are put in. Looking to the top of one of the completed crystals. View down into the atrium from the roof. The diagrid is clearly visible. View from the roof into the central atrium. A small section of the diagrid overhangs Philosopher A view from inside the central atrium looking up. The vertical piece adjacent to the brick wall is a temporary support that will be removed once the floors are poured. A large assemblage is lifted - very close to the street - as the staging area becomes increasingly smaller. A view inside the atrium as the steel is finally complete. Interior finishing operations come next. The ceremony of the last piece to celebrate the excellent work of Ironworkers Local 721. The last piece is lowered into position and bolted. Over 10,000 attachments must be welded to the structure to facilitate the connection of the subframe for the cladding system. Cladding operations are underway. The cladding is supplied by Josef Gartner of Germany. A more detailed view of the cladding subframe that provides the structure and form for the cladding layers. A view of the interior. Spray fireproofing is applied to the interior steel ahead of its eventual enclosure in drywall. The cladding system must be able to absorb the movement of the frame. An aerial view of the project taken in June 2006 from the Hyatt Hotel. Daniel Libeskind and the other members of the team watch as the last piece is lifted into position.

Project Description Project Team

Project Description

The Royal Ontario Museum is situated on the south west corner of Bloor Street and Avenue Road, at one of the most central locations in the City of Toronto. This high profile location, combined with the unusual design, has helped this addition to raise much interest and awareness about the role of architecture in the culture of the city.

For more information on the design, fabrication and construction of this project, please visit Canadian Architect Magazine's January Issue of 2006 and read the article, "Ordering Chaos", by Terri Meyer Boake. link

photos: Terri Meyer Boake

The Construction of the Addition to the Royal Ontario Museum

The addition to the Royal Ontario Museum is one of the more recent projects by Architect Daniel Libeskind. Libeskind has become renowned for his use of the structural steel diagrid as a formgiver for his architectural "crystal" buildings, as can also be seen in the Denver Art Museum. The steel fabrictor and erector, Walters Inc., of Hamilton, had to take greater than normal care in both fabricating and erecting the components in order to ensure a proper fit amongst the various parts.


The "Architectural Opening" of the Michael Lee Chin Crystal took place on June 2, 2007.

The Addition to the ROM received an Engineering Award of Merit from the Ontario Region of the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction in 2007. more info

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