Art Gallery of Nova Scotia to move to Halifax waterfront; building project expected to cost $130M
By On-Site Staff
FinancingHALIFAX—The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia is planning to pack up thousands of works of art for a short move to a new, modern facility at the foot of Salter Street in downtown Halifax.
The project, announced last week by the gallery leadership, along with the federal and provincial governments, will greatly expand the footprint of what’s already the largest art museum in Atlantic Canada, giving curators the chance to display parts of the gallery’s collection that have spent years in storage.
Plans for the new gallery remain in the design phase, but the province said the new facility, a few blocks from its current site, is expected to cover 142,000 sq. ft. Initial cost projections total $130 million, with a $30 million commitment from Ottawa, $30 million from the art gallery and at least $70 million from the province.
Along with providing additional space, the art gallery expects the project to nearly double its visitation to 120,000 people a year from 64,000 today.
The procurement process for the design contract is expected to get underway shortly, with a construction tender and the start of construction to follow. The province has not yet provided a timeline for the job.
