First View: Royal Ontario Museum – Third Expansion

Ever wondered what that huge crystal-encrusted structure is in the NeoView banner?

The Royal Ontario Museum (also known simply as ROM, rhymes with Tom) has been open for nearly a century (five more years). It has already undergone two expansions, with the third one nearing completion. It’s third expansion featured the crystalline design, the work of Daniel Libeskind. Contrary to belief, Michael Lee-Chin is not the architect, but is a contributor of a large sum of money ($30 million, according to ROM’s website).

It’s redesign, known as Renaissance ROM, really impresses me. I had the pleasure of seeing it through its various stages – a year ago, an excursion was organized by my art teacher, who generously took us to ROM to see some sculptures and ancient works of art. The project was already going on, and I was able to see the nearly-completed framework of Renaissance ROM.

Now it’s a little more than a year later, and it’s exterior redesign seems complete. And no other design could be further from the previous ROM look. The deconstructivist style, in contrast to its older, modernist look (second expansion of 1984), is in my opinion much…”cooler”. It has got a lot more flair, which is something that I have really come to appreciate.

Especially when located on Bloor (major southern street), across from a strip of retail stores, fast food restaurants, hotels, and the University of Toronto campus, I can say that the new ROM brings a nice touch into the neighbourhood. I just can’t wait to get in there once it’s really finished so I can see the renovated exhibits. Hope they didn’t break any important skeletons or sculptures (just kidding, folks).

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