Nearly a year after abandoning plans for a massive new facility at the corner of Cambie and Georgia streets, the Vancouver Art Gallery is close to selecting a Canadian architect for a second attempt at constructing a new venue. The decision comes after the institution suffered significant financial losses on its previous project, which was officially scrapped in 2024.
Speaking with reporters, the gallery's interim co-CEOs revealed they are taking a fundamentally different approach as they prepare to move forward with a new design. "Yes, that is a big pill to swallow," acknowledged co-CEO Sirish Rao, referring to the substantial financial setback from the failed project. The gallery spent approximately $64 million over 15 years before officially abandoning the earlier plan, which featured a nine-story wood-and-glass structure designed by the renowned architectural firm Herzog and de Meuron.
Construction on the original project was halted in 2024 when the estimated budget ballooned dramatically from $400 million to $600 million, making the project financially unfeasible. Gallery leadership explained that while some of the $64 million went toward preparing the construction site, the majority of the funds were consumed over the past decade and a half through extensive planning and pre-construction activities. Most of that investment is now considered a total loss.
Once the new architectural firm is selected, it will receive a clear and specific mandate focused on community engagement and practical functionality. "We need purpose-built galleries where we can present the most exciting contemporary art while also having intimate spaces for historical art," explained Eva Respini, interim co-CEO and curator at large. She emphasized the gallery's current limitations, noting, "We don't have a lecture hall. We don't have a place where we can screen films or invite writers and artists to come and be in conversation with one another."
The selection process for the new architect has been rigorous, with the gallery putting its shortlist of candidates through extensive vetting procedures. The chosen firm will be specifically tasked with conducting community consultations to determine what residents and visitors want in a new cultural facility. "We do not see the model necessarily being about square footage," Rao explained. "It is about how it welcomes the public, how it draws people in. Is it a tourism magnet?"
When asked about suggestions that the gallery should consider moving into an existing downtown space, such as the former Bay or Nordstrom buildings, leadership called the ideas "intriguing" but ultimately impractical. "The Bay is not free," Rao pointed out. "One would have to purchase the Bay, and then renovations are often more expensive than custom builds." This reasoning reinforces the gallery's commitment to constructing a purpose-built facility rather than adapting existing commercial spaces.
Despite the setbacks, the Vancouver Art Gallery maintains it has substantial resources for the new project. The institution currently has access to approximately $300 million, which includes a combination of cash reserves, confirmed donations, and outstanding pledges from supporters. While there is no confirmed timeline for construction of the new facility, gallery leadership expressed confidence in their ability to move forward successfully.
"The future of the Vancouver Art Gallery is still on track," Respini stated, emphasizing the institution's commitment to eventually providing Vancouver with a world-class art museum facility that meets the needs of both the local community and international visitors.
