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

Exterior - October 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

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: October 4, 5, 2007
North Facade - West End

The top glulam beam is ready to accept additional glulam sections at its rear side.	The crane still is attached to the newly lifted glulam beam. YOu can see that there is a temporary steel support at the backside of this connection.


Ironworkers finish the attachment of the temporary steel support.	Closer view of work on the base connection of the temporary support. This can be removed once the glulam sections are all in place.


Closer view of the top beam as it rests on its steel seat.	Steel supports the glulam system as it transfers the load back into the main building.


View of the site as it is ready for the installation of the glulam back ribs.	Closer view of connection. Note the sling still connects the glulam beam to the crane.


A wooden rear support is lifted in to place.	An ironworker helps to align the rib with the galvanized steel connector.


The rear support now in place.	Six rear supports in place.


View of the work from the corner of Dundas and Beverly Street.	An ironworker sits in the crane lift to finish attaching the rear supports.


The connectors are hammered into the joint.	A few more to go...
North Facade - East End

View of the east end from McCaul and Dundas Street..	There is more that will be done to the facade system at this end, but not until the main gallery glazing is complete.


Closer view of the top connection.	The steel structure is necessary as closer examination of this end will reveal that many of the glulam sections are "cut" and not structurally continuous as along the mid section of the facade.


Fire proofing now on the full length of the main supporting steel beam and projections.	Here you can begin to see how some of the wood members have been truncated, so need steel to support them.
South Facade Progress

Looking at the stair on the rear face you can see that more sections have been added.	As this work has to take place over the roof of the historic Grange House, scaffoldiing has been erected both to protect the old house as well as to provide a working platform.


View of the knuckle stair with a few sections still missing.	Closer view of the knuckle stair. Unfortunately I missed seeing any of these sections lifted into place...


Closer view of the knuckle stair.	Overall view of the south face fo the building.