We are pleased to report that the transformation project to reimagine the Bruce Museum is proceeding safely, and is on schedule and on budget. Begun on September 9 – the day after our Bruce ConsTRUCKS kick-off event for the Campaign for the New Bruce – the current phase of the $45 million construction project involves the top-to-bottom renovation of the Museum’s changing gallery spaces.

Over the past two months, work crews managed by Turner Construction have ‘demo’ed’ much of the existing flooring, walls, and ceiling structures in the Love, Newman-Wilds, and Arcade galleries, and are now in the process of reconstructing and reconfiguring the interior walls, installing new ventilation ductwork and other structural enhancements.

On Thursday, November 6, a heavy-duty crane was on site to lift the equipment and support structures for a modern new climate-control system (HVAC) onto the roof of the building.

The purpose of this renovation project is threefold:

• To reconfigure the galleries in the existing building to accommodate major new art and science exhibitions, opening on February 1, 2020;

• To prepare this expansive space as the future home of the Museum’s Permanent and Changing Science Galleries after the new Art Wing opens;

• To implement upgrades to the Museum’s climate control system (HVAC).

These enhancements will be followed by a complete renovation and reinvention of the Permanent Science Galleries, beginning in February 2020.

Groundbreaking for the Art Wing addition is expected to begin next summer, with the opening of the New Bruce scheduled for the summer of 2022.

During the current renovation phase, the Permanent Science Galleries, Bantle Lecture Gallery, Education Workshop, and Museum Store remain open. Admission to the Museum is free to all visitors through January 31, 2020; please visit brucemuseum.org for information about scheduled programs and special events.