Steel Project Case Study Gallery: Renovation to AGO, Toronto

Terri Meyer Boake BES BArch MArch LEED AP
Associate Professor :: Associate Director :: School of Architecture :: University of Waterloo

Renovation to the Art Gallery of Ontario

... fall 2006 - winter 2007

Frank Gehry Architect

Toronto, Ontario

Project Information:

Design Architect: Frank Gehry
Local Engineer: Yolles Halcrow
Steel Fabrication: Benson Steel, Mariani Metals
General Contractor: EllisDon
Cladding: Flynn

Renovation work tends to be painfully slow. In this case, having to keep the gallery open in parts, moving objects on the interior and working with and around existing structure is to blame.

preparation - fall 2005-summer 2006	fall 2006 - winter 2007	facade - june 07	erecting "arm" - june 2007	erecting "beam" - june 2007	south facade - june 2007	steel stairs - june 2007
exterior - sept 2007	exterior - oct 2007	cisc fall tour oct 23, 2007	ssef tour - feb 2008	april 2008	june 2008

Project Images: Fall 2006 to Winter 2007
October 2006


The addition continues along the north face of the building. The structure is steel. The infill is lightweight steel studs.	What here is seen to be on the exterior will still be on the interior of the building once the gallery is erected on this north face.


Accessing the face by a small self operated crane. There is no place for scaffolding.	A closer view of the gypsum board thta is being installed over the structural wall beneath.


Closer view of work on the north facade.	A lot of work is required to tie together the disparate sections of the north facade structures and spaces.


Looking at the lightweight steel infill framing and the steel truss structure beyond. Use of lightweight steel allows for some very tall infil members.	View looking west along Dundas Street.
November 2006


The wall is being prepared to withstand the weather over the winter. Even though this face will predominantly be inside, protective layers are installed as the construction of the glulam and glass facade will not be complete for about a year.	A substantial steel structural system has beenerected along the north face. This large beam will support the glulam arms that in turn support the glass facade along the new gallery space.


The steel beam increases in depth and dips down towards its east end.	View of the steel beam that will support the signature gallery space.


An ironworker. His scale give you some idea as to the depth of the beam.	The face has been covered with Tyvek to protect it from the upcoming winter weather.


The future openings into the main gallery are closed in while this substantial piece of work is completed.	Splice in the beam.


Closer view of the splice in the beam.	Odd looking column support condition.


You can see that the main structural frame has been fireproofed. You can also see in this shot the the gallery floor directly above seems to slope.	Oblique view of this main support beam and the small, regularly spaced steel projections out its front face.


View of the structure from OCAD. This will be the full height of the rear addition. The framing for some penthouses/toplighting is apparent.	Closer view of the structure. Some weather protection is in place. Fireproofing is evident behind the weather protection.


Close r view of the steel framing and fire protection. It is obvious that the steel structure will be covered.	View towards the main future glazed opening at the rear face.


View of the penthouse framing.	View through the project to the city beyond.


The steel decking is being installed to support the concrete floor topping. You can see that the profile is quite deep. A substantial WF steel truss is also evident.	View of the south face of the project from the playground in Grange Park.


View from Grange Park.	View up through the structure - seeing the floor going in.


One tower crane services most of the building site.	Ironworkers looking down.


These are the penthouses/skylights? along the north facade being framed. They are built from structural steel and finished out with lightweight steel framing.	The structure is clad.
December 2006


The slender steel supports that hold up the main canopy are being prepared to be encased in concrete.	A closer view of the rebar that surrounds the column.
March 2007


View looking west along Dundas Street.	The concrete casing of the front support columns is complete.


The weatherproof enclose of the north wall continues.	Drywall is delivered.


The south facade is being completed. The solid wall portions are infilled with lightweight steel framing. Rigid fibreglass insulation is installed on top of this.	You can now see the T shaped cutout that wil be glazed.


The cladding is a complex layering system. Here we see lightweight steel channels being installed over Blueskin Air Barrier. The joints are sealed.	A closer view of the corner condition.