[Updated April 30, 2024]
In January 2023, the Museum of Anthropology at UBC temporarily closed to the public to facilitate the completion of the seismic upgrades of its Great Hall. The Museum will reopen to the public on June 13, 2024 at 5pm.
- Project Overview
- Construction Livestream, Photos + Media
- Project Timeline
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Project Details
- Project Team
Project Overview
MOA has been temporarily closed to the public since January 2023 to facilitate the completion of the seismic upgrades of its iconic Great Hall. The Museum is scheduled to reopen on the evening of June 13, 2024 at 5 pm, in time to welcome back the many thousands of local, national and international visitors during the busy summer season.
Groundbreaking Seismic Technology + Building Upgrades
The project will upgrade the resiliency of the Museum and protect its irreplaceable collection in the event of a major earthquake. When the project is complete the Great Hall will look as its famed Canadian architect, Arthur Erickson, intended in his original plans in the mid-1970s, though now it will incorporate groundbreaking 21st-century technology. The cutting-edge design/engineering solution for the Great Hall seismic upgrades is to install base isolators under the suspended main floor slab to absorb the impact of seismic activity, separating the building from the ground and from the adjoining museum structures.
Additionally, MOA is under construction for other critical building upgrades, such as updates to its lighting, skylights, roofing, window coverings, carpeting and fire protection. Together, these improvements will better showcase and protect the collection.
Revitalization + Reinterpretation of Great Hall Displays
Importantly, the seismic upgrade project also presents a significant opportunity for MOA conservators and curators, working together with First Nations communities and family groups, to work together to revitalize the displays and interpretation of the massive carvings, poles, belongings and artworks housed in the Great Hall and other areas of the Museum. MOA is working with Indigenous knowledge holders to prepare the reinstallation and reinterpretation of these significant works in the Great Hall in culturally appropriate ways, once the seismic upgrades are complete. The safety and protection of these irreplaceable Indigenous objects is of the highest priority to MOA’s team, which is ensuring they are well cared for during construction.
Temporary Closure + Reopening
The planning for the seismic upgrades of the Great Hall began in November 2020, and officially began in December 2021. Since then, progress has been underway to rebuild the Great Hall with cutting-edge, 21st-century base isolation technology. While the Great Hall was demolished in January 2022, the rest of the Museum and its galleries remained open to public for the year and visitors were able to continue enjoying access to feature exhibitions and MOA’s permanent collections.
In January 2023, the entire Museum was temporarily closed to accelerate the completion of this monumental undertaking. Initial timelines that were announced anticipated that MOA would reopen in late 2023; however, as with construction projects of this magnitude, extenuating circumstances have pushed back the much-anticipated reopening to June 2024. Though the Great Hall project has faced pandemic-related supply chain issues, provincial port and concrete labour disruptions, and unexpected construction setbacks, the team of construction managers, engineers, architects, UBC planners and MOA staff continue to steadily advance the project with the extraordinary care and consideration required of a project of this significance.
When MOA reopens in June 2024, it serendipitously marks the 75th anniversary year of when MOA first opened—in its original location in the basement of the UBC Library. A season of special programming is in the works, and will be announced as the Museum’s reopening nears.
Heritage Value + Sensitive Approach
MOA has important heritage value for UBC. The Great Hall seismic upgrades therefore involve a sensitive approach, following conservation principles that address both the heritage values and character-defining elements of the site and the building. The Musqueam Indian Band has participated in planning meetings. In addition, feedback from the Arthur Erickson Foundation has informed the architectural and construction approach to the project, ensuring the Great Hall will retain the appearance of the original space to preserve its architectural character and heritage values.
MOA’s landscape and grounds will also be fully remediated once construction is complete.
Ongoing Indigenous Access + Public Programming
Though the building is temporarily closed, MOA continues to facilitate access for Indigenous communities to the collections. The museum has also been offering on-site behind-the-scenes tours, special virtual events, digital school programs, and other exciting initiatives for the public. Likewise, the museum’s teaching, research and exhibition work continues in preparation for welcoming visitors back on June 13, 2024 at 5 pm with a revitalized museum experience.
Construction Livestream, Photos + Media
Livestream of construction site:
Project photo album (click image to open album):
4D animated simulation of construction process:
Project proposal:
Open House information panels:
Link to information panels on UBC Campus + Community Planning website
360° virtual tour of the Great Hall in its original state:
Project Timeline
Upcoming milestones
January 16, 2023 – June 2024: MOA will be temporarily closed to the public to accelerate the completion of the Great Hall seismic upgrades and other building improvements.
June 13, 2024, 5 pm: The Great Hall seismic upgrades will be complete and the Museum will reopen to the public.
Overview
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the scope of the project?
Why is this project happening?
Project Details
The Great Hall Renewal is a joint project of UBC Campus + Community Planning, UBC Infrastructure Development and the Museum of Anthropology.
Please visit the UBC Campus + Community Planning website for project details, documents and technical information, including:
- • Project Overview
- • Public Consultation
- • Project Considerations
- • Architectural Plans
- • Landscape Plans
- • Tree Protection Plan
- • Frequently Asked Questions
- • Project Timeline
Further project updates are also available on the UBC Infrastructure Development website.
Project Team
Development Permit: DP19025
Status: In construction
Project Manager: UBC Project Service — Aletha Utimati
Architect: Nick Milkovich Architects Inc.
Construction Manager: Heatherbrae Builders Co Ltd.
Structural Engineer: Equilibrium