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Addition to the Royal Ontario Museum

Toronto
Ontario

The illumination of the Crystal on the evening of June 2, 2007

The illumination of the Crystal on the evening of June 2, 2007 Crowds gather at the ROM on the eve of the opening. As the evening darkened, the Crystal was used as a projection screen behind the speeches. A myriad of celebrities made presentations. A night view of the illuminated Crystal. A view towards the skylights over the main atrium. One of the galleries on the second floor. There are no right angles in this buildiing. A view down through the middle of the building to the lobby below. A gallery space. The top floor gallery - white walls against black sky beyond. A view towards the ceiling on the top gallery floor. Installation complete on the top floor. A view down through the centre of the "Stair of Wonders". A lone sloped column penetrates the gallery space. A daytime view of the top floor gallery. View towards the ceiling on the top floor. A lonely HSS member can be seen exposed between the glazing enclosures. Daytime view of the top floor gallery. Top floor gallery with installations complete - day view. Patrons "experience the diagrid" - note the thickness of the drywall cover. A view through the third floor gallery. Sloped columns from the diagrid penetrate the gallery space. A view across the atrium space at the front of the building. Sloped columns through the gallery space. One of the more oblique diagrid elements. A view down through the central criss cross of bridges. The outward slope of the drywall finished steel diagrid at the front wall of the museum. Looking into the acute angled corner of a gallery. The interior view of some of the many glazing penetrations in the front wall. The central atrium space. The completed Weston Gallery at the lower level. The completed exterior. Signage Close up view of the completed cladding. A trapezoidal window opening. Exterior view of the completed skin and geometric openings. The exterior of the building is nearing completion.

Project Description Project Team

Project Description

The images in this section show the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal at a distinct moment in time - the week of the architectural opening. Not all of the landscaping is complete, nor are the gallery installations. The raw finished building is able to be appreciated for the statement it was designed to make.

Photos: Terri Meyer Boake

The Architectural Opening of the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal took place on June 2, 2007. The event was attended by dignitaries from across Canada and served to launch the new Arts Festival in Toronto, Luminato.

The week following the opening the building was open to the public for free tours, prior to the installation of the exhibits. This gave all the opportunity to appreciate the "space" provided by the diagrid.

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