Canadian Architects to Design the New Canadian War Museum
Ottawa, Ontario, October 23, 2001 — The Board of Trustees of the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation announced today that the joint venture of the firms of Moriyama & Teshima Architects of Toronto and Griffiths Rankin Cook Architects of Ottawa has been selected to design the new Canadian War Museum, to be built in the heart of downtown Ottawa on LeBreton Flats.
“Chosen through a competitive process, this outstanding consortium of architects has the experience and the vision to ensure that our new Museum becomes a symbol of Canadian pride and accomplishment,” stated Joe Geurts, Director and CEO of the Canadian War Museum. “I am confident that our new facility will enhance Ottawa’s profile as our national capital, while its contents will teach Canadians young and old about the central part military events have played in our country’s history.”
“I am proud that we have been selected to lead the most important institutional and architectural project in Canada today,” stated Raymond Moriyama, Partner, Moriyama & Teshima. “Just as war evokes powerful images and emotions, the architecture for the new Museum must be powerful enough to capture the hearts and minds of Canadians as well as international attention and audiences. It must speak of the horror of war, but it must also speak of hope and tolerance.”
“At the same time,” added Mr. Moriyama, “our goal is for the Museum to be a positive fit and addition to the west end of the Parliamentary precinct, the westerly approach from Hull, the Ceremonial Route, and the context of the Ottawa streetscape.”
Since 1958, Moriyama & Teshima has played a leadership role in major institutional projects ranging from the Saudi Arabian National Museum to the Ontario Science Centre, from the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo to the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto. Raymond Moriyama, one of Canada’s most respected architects, has received numerous honours including a recent Honorary Fellowship in the American Institute of Architects. Mr. Moriyama is currently Chancellor of Brock University.
The new Museum will house greatly expanded permanent and temporary exhibition space, a research centre including a library and archives, as well as classrooms, a theatre and other education facilities. The site will also include a parade square for ceremonies, re-enactments and demonstrations that will extend the indoor interpretive spaces, and an outdoor exhibition area for large-scale artifacts.
The design of the new Museum will be unveiled in the late spring of 2002 and construction will begin in the fall of 2002. The opening ceremony is planned for May 8, 2005, the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe. The total cost of the project is $105.75 million, with contributions of $83.75 million from the Government of Canada, $7 million from the Canadian Museum of Civilization and $15 million from fundraising.
The Passing the Torch campaign of the Friends of the Canadian War Museum has to date raised $10.7 million. Final efforts are now underway to complete this unprecedented campaign.
In order to ensure that Canadians are fully informed of its plans, the Canadian War Museum will be posting regularly updated information on the construction programme and related developments on its Web site. In addition, it is installing information panels at its existing facility on Sussex Drive and at the Canadian Museum of Civilization.
The new Canadian War Museum will be built on LeBreton Flats, in the heart of the national capital. Thus it will be linked to a ring of national institutions that includes the Canadian Museum of Civilization, the National Gallery of Canada, Parliament Hill, the National War Memorial, the Supreme Court, the National Archives and the National Library.
Senior Communications Officer
Canadian War Museum
Tel.: (819) 776-8607
Communications and Development Officer
Canadian War Museum
Tel.: (819) 776-8608
Fax: (819) 776-8623
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