The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) and its development partner, Graywood Developments Ltd., have filed an application to the City of Toronto for amendments to the Official Plan and Zoning by-laws to permit the re-development of the Museum’s property at 90 Queen’s Park. This public-private partnership, known as ROM South, represents the last phase of the Renaissance ROM project that is now underway and will generate significant benefits for the general public, the ROM and the University of Toronto at no cost to the taxpayer.

The ROM South proposal creates a new five-storey facility for the ROM that provides 35,000 square feet for Museum needs (offices, storage and, potentially, public spaces) linked into the existing Museum buildings. Designed by Brisbin, Brook, Beynon Architects, the new building is set back from the street to preserve the view of the historic south façade of the ROM. The project also creates a new public plaza, a new pedestrian bridge linking Philosophers’ Walk to Queen’s Park, and a new direct link to an accessible Museum subway station. These public facilities would be entirely financed by an architecturally significant forty-storey private residential building clad in blue glass, rising above an articulated garden level over the ROM facility. This elegant tower will complement the new Michael Lee-Chin Crystal under construction at the north end of the Museum’s property.

"ROM South provides essential new space for the Museum, while also creating a new link and direct entrance to the TTC subway station, building a beautiful new plaza on Queen’s Park and improving the pedestrian link to Philosophers’ Walk," said William Thorsell, Director and CEO of the ROM. " With its iconic new residential tower marking the emerging Museum Arts District at Bloor and Avenue Road, the project also provides significant funds that will enable us to complete the full scope of the Renaissance ROM project, including the restoration of the heritage buildings by mid-2007, within its original timeframe."

In addition to the greatly improved ROM facilities within the podium of the proposed new 46-storey building, ROM South will also upgrade the public areas that surround the building. The public plaza in front of the building will feature a new reflecting pool and holographic artwork on the ground floor’s glass walls. The existing path to Philosophers’ Walk, which currently passes through the shipping and garbage areas, will be improved in terms of both safety and experience with a bridge that separates the pedestrians from delivery vehicles. The Museum subway station will have direct access into the ROM and will be redesigned to provide display cases right on the subway platform. A wide, gently sloping ramp and elegant new pavilion housing an elevator will replace the two existing access stairs from the sidewalk down into the station.

The site is currently zoned for institutional use in the Official Plan of the City of Toronto. ROM South proposes an intensification of mixed residential and institutional uses at this important downtown subway station. This project is similar in concept to the MOMA Tower in New York City, the St. Regis Museum Tower in San Francisco and other successful museum developments. As part of their review of the application, the City will hold public meetings before the Planning Department‘s report is given to City Council. A vote on the application is expected sometime in 2006.