Interim Ontario Science Centre Opens as Permanent Location Under Construction

The Ontario Science Centre has opened an interim location at Toronto's Harbourfront Centre, marking a new phase for the institution as its permanent home is built at Ontario Place. The new facility is slated to open in 2029.

This move follows the abrupt closure of the science centre's original east Toronto location two years prior, which the government cited as necessary due to urgent roof repairs. However, this explanation was disputed by workers and critics who questioned the suddenness of the closure.

In the interim, the science centre operated through two pop-up exhibits. The current interim location at Harbourfront Centre offers an expanded footprint compared to those pop-ups, featuring a new space exhibit, an Innovation Station, and the KidSpark interactive displays, along with outdoor space.

Despite the new offerings, the interim site is considerably smaller than the original building. It spans approximately 86,000 square feet, a stark contrast to the former location's 568,000 square feet. Tourism and Culture Minister Stan Cho stated that the old building "had its day," citing structural issues and asserting that the new waterfront location offers superior advantages.

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The old building had its day, but there were structural problems and that location can’t compare to the waterfront.