The Gardiner Museum, Toronto’s destination for the art of ceramics, has completed a transformative renovation of its ground floor, redefining how visitors experience its collections, programs, and community spaces.

The recent renovations, designed by Montgomery Sisam Architects and Andrew Jones Design, focus on three core principles of accessibility, connectivity, and indigeneity, creating a welcoming, flexible, and culturally resonant environment for all visitors.

The renovation introduces a continuous glazed ribbon wall that guides visitors from the main entrance to the collections gallery and doubles as a display vitrine.

The maker-space for community clay classes has been updated for accessibility, ventilation, storage, and display, while the community learning centre now better accommodates school groups, summer camps, and day-to-day exploration.

A single, open room with new vitrines showcases the museum’s Indigenous collection at its heart, strengthening visual and physical connections with the museum’s entrance and foyer.

A new opening in the collections gallery’s east facade creates a light-filled corridor linking the permanent collections with the surrounding public realm and civic district.

Thoughtfully chosen finishes, including white oak, natural stone, and durable laminates, echo the warmth, tactility, and artistry of the museum’s collection.

Temporary exhibitions and programming now have a versatile “blank canvas” space, and retail display improvements reduce clutter while enhancing accessibility.