Vancouver Art Gallery Names Herzog & de Meuron to Design New Facility

The Vancouver Art Gallery has selected Herzog & de Meuron to design its new and expanded home in downtown Vancouver.

The new facility will be the first project in Canada for the Pritzker Prize–winning firm. Based in Basel, Switzerland, Herzog & de Meuron have had a longstanding engagement with the visual arts, working with institutions and artists around the world on such renowned buildings as the Tate Modern in London and the Schaulager in Basel.

“Herzog & de Meuron’s designs are recognized internationally for both their creativity and sensitivity to place. Their buildings not only effectively and elegantly meet the needs of their users, but also become places that are part of the cultural draw and identity of a city,” said Bruce Munro Wright, Chair of the Gallery’s Board of Trustees and Chair of the Architect Selection Committee.

 “We are thrilled to be working with Herzog & de Meuron, and to be the first to bring their incredible talent to Canada. Our new Gallery will be a vital and dynamic resource for Vancouver, one that engages and welcomes artists and visitors from the region and from around the world,” said Kathleen S. Bartels, Gallery Director.

The new VAG at West Georgia and Cambie will be 300,000 square feet, almost doubling the space of the current facility. This will allow them to support the museum’s collections, exhibitions, and programs, which have increased exponentially over the past decade. It will also enable the Gallery to better serve its growing audience, expand the international reach and range of its program, and further enhance Vancouver’s standing as a major centre of cultural production. The Gallery plans to unveil conceptual designs for the new building in early 2015.

“A new, expanded Vancouver Art Gallery will build Vancouver's creative economy and give local artists exposure to a broader audience,” said Mayor Gregor Robertson. "Congratulations to Herzog & de Meuron, who will be creating this important new cultural space in our downtown.”

The Vancouver Art Gallery’s Architect Selection Committee was unanimous in their recommendation of Herzog & de Meuron to the Gallery’s Board of Trustees. Their recommendation was based on the firm’s proven ability to create innovative museum buildings that place prominence on artists and institutional mission, and the firm’s vision for the new Gallery, which recognizes and responds to the context and needs of the museum now and in the future.