New Vancouver art gallery breaks ground

Construction on Vancouver’s new art gallery has officially begun, after years of planning and fundraising.

To mark the beginning of the build, the gallery held a “ground awakening ceremony” Friday.

Gallery CEO Anthony Kiendl says the new building will allow the gallery to bring in world class exhibits and better serve the public.

“As we transition to our new building, we’re set to grow our public programming space to ensure visitors from every walk of life can enrich their perspective,” Kiendl said. “Embarking on the construction of a purpose-built home will provide the optimal platform to pursue these goals.”

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This new gallery site has been in the works for more than a decade now, while the gallery’s current building on Hornby Street has become too small to meet current demand.

Located in downtown Vancouver at West Georgia Street and Cambie Street, the new building will feature six levels of gallery, a library and a daycare. The new building will accommodate 50 per cent more exhibition space for Indigenous, Asian, Canadian and international art, the gallery states.

With funding from private donors and all levels of government, the new gallery has raised $340 million of its $400 million fundraising goal.

Expected to open in 2028, the building will also feature a climate resilient design by including components such as solar shading, green space and cooled exterior spaces.