en.Wedoany.com Reported - The temporary pavilion of the Ontario Science Centre has opened to the public at Harbourfront Centre, while the new permanent venue at Ontario Place is under construction, expected to open in 2029.
Two years ago, the provincial government abruptly closed the original Science Centre in Toronto's east end with only a few hours' notice, citing urgent roof repairs. Critics questioned the reason for the closure, as the roof withstood record snowfall this winter.
During the transition, the Science Centre operated two pop-up exhibitions; the temporary venue is located in the pop-up exhibition area at Harbourfront Centre, with an expanded footprint.
The new facility features a space exhibition, an area called "Innovation Station," the KidSpark interactive zone, and outdoor spaces.
Tourism and Culture Minister Stan Cho expressed pride that young minds will be inspired here, "developing their own unique ways to achieve extraordinary things."
The temporary Harbourfront venue covers approximately 86,000 square feet, far smaller than the original 568,000 square feet.
Cho stated that the old building "has seen better days," with structural issues, while the waterfront location holds great promise. He said this is not about disrespecting the beauty of that area, but about creating a waterfront destination that didn't exist before.
Cho did not disclose the cost of the temporary venue, but the provincial government recently signed a $1 billion contract to build the new permanent facility at Ontario Place.
