The Vancouver Art Gallery is taking a fresh approach to its long-awaited new building.

Source: Storeys

After parting ways with Swiss architectural firm Herzog & de Meuron in December, the gallery’s Board of Trustees officially launched a request for proposals (RFP) process on January 22. They’ve invited 14 Canadian architectural firms to submit designs for the future home of the Vancouver Art Gallery.

A Shift in Direction
The decision to move forward with a new architectural team comes after years of setbacks, including funding challenges and rising costs. The original concept, designed by Herzog & de Meuron in 2014, featured a bold stacked-box design but never made it past the planning stages. While the site at 181 West Georgia Street was selected and an initial completion target of 2020 was set, financial hurdles prevented construction from moving forward.

“Following the temporary pause of on-site construction activity announced in August 2024, we have been reassessing the direction of the Vancouver Art Gallery’s new building project,” said CEO & Executive Director Anthony Kiendl in a December update. “Our goal is to create a building that embodies a diverse and inclusive artistic vision while ensuring financial sustainability within a fixed budget.”

The new approach focuses on achievability, practicality, and fiscal responsibility, while still aiming to create a world-class space for art and culture.

Who’s Been Invited?
While the gallery has not publicly released the full list of invited architects, they confirmed the following

14 Canadian firms have been selected:

• Diamond Schmitt (Vancouver)
• Formline Architecture & Urbanism (West Vancouver)
• Hariri Pontarini Architects (Toronto)
• HCMA (Vancouver)
• Henriquez Partners Architects (Vancouver)
• Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg (KPMB) (Toronto)
• Michael Green Architecture (MGA) (Vancouver)
• Office of Macfarlane Biggar (OMB) (Vancouver)
• Patkau Architects Inc. (Vancouver)
• Perkins&Will (Vancouver)
• Revery (Vancouver)
• Saucier+Perrotte Architectes (Montreal)
• Teeple Architects (Toronto)
• 5468796 Architecture Inc. (Winnipeg)

Many of these firms have experience designing cultural spaces, in addition to their work on commercial and residential projects. Henriquez Partners, for example, is known for its collaborations with Westbank, while Perkins&Will has worked on several buildings at UBC. Revery is currently designing the new PNE Amphitheatre.

What’s Next?
The deadline for proposals is March 14, and from there, the Vancouver Art Gallery will select a firm to bring its new vision to life. The hope is that this new approach will finally get the long-awaited project off the ground.

However, not everyone is thrilled about the shift. The 181 W Georgia Street site, also known as Larwill Park, was previously used for temporary supportive housing, which was dismantled in preparation for the new gallery. Critics argue that the process has been mishandled, with some donors, including Bob Rennie, reconsidering their contributions.

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Tags: Vancouver Art Gallery, New Vancouver Art Gallery