A true labour of love — for our firm and for the Niagara-on-the-Lake Historical Society — this project began with a bold and thoughtful foundation: an insightful report and program developed by Lord Cultural Resources. The existing facility is a remarkable ensemble, bringing together Ontario’s first purpose-built museum, a connecting link structure, and a historic high school. From the outset, our mandate was ambitious: to envision exhibit, storage, and program needs not just for today, but for the next forty years.
Our initial design response was a rear addition that would respectfully defer to the heritage buildings while introducing a distinctive roofline — a quiet but confident signal that something new and compelling is unfolding on the site. Since then, the Museum has acquired the neighbouring property, including a residence that will become the museum’s future administrative home. We are now weaving these elements together — land, buildings, history, and future aspirations—into a unified cultural campus. The emerging design features a dynamic new entrance and expanded indoor and outdoor program areas, creating a more welcoming, flexible, and inspiring environment for generations to come.
