Posts tagged “Ontario Science Centre”

Ontario Science Centre staff on highly suspect OSC closure.
3 July, 2024

An interview with Ontario Science Centre (OSC) director of communications, Kevin von Appen and OSC CEO, Lesley Lewis, Ontario Science Centre employees, for The Trill Podcast, on the premature closure of the OSC. The Trill Podcast is short for The Trillium , a news outlet that covers the Ontario government policies at Queens Park. Lewis and von Appen provide scrutinize the OSC closure and the Ford administration's case for the Science Centre / Spa / commercial project.

Copy excerpt from The Trill: The Ontario Science Centre is no more — at least as Ontarians have known it for the last 55 years. On June 21, the provincial government closed the building, citing an engineering report that said small parts of the roof were unsafe and needed urgent repairs. The government chose to shut everything down rather than try to fix the problems and keep the institution open while a new science centre is built at Ontario Place. And while the province has promised a temporary science centre in the interim, it's expected to be just a fraction of the size of the recently closed facility. Critics, however, haven't drawn the same conclusions from that report. The decision — like almost every move made during the years-long science centre saga — has garnered fierce opposition. Lesley Lewis, who served as the centre's CEO from 1998 to 2014, and Kevin von Appen, who worked for the centre for almost 35 years, including as its director of science communication, join us to walk through the organization's history, slow-percolating troubles that doomed its facility, the current site's future, and its relocation.

Some key quotes from the episode:

Kevin von Appen:

(On keeping the current Ontario Science Centre)...It is better use of public funds, based on the data...as people look at the data, look at the figures...that people will begin to see that the numbers simply don’t add up and it is not the good use of public funds to follow the current course...

(On the Therme Spa Project)The science centre’s brand is being leveraged to distract from a removal of public accessibility to a public trust, which is the water front...a public trust like a Science Centre, which is what it is, it is much more like a library or a park than it is an amusement that one public trust (Science Centre) is being used in degrading another public trust (waterfront)...

...You don’t need to close the building (for repairs)...the nature of the roof panel repairs are that they don’t encompass the entire roof. They are region specific places. Most of the places where the repairs are critical are not even over the actual public exhibition places...

...It is common practice, and you can walk up to the Royal Ontario Museum to see it in action now, to complete repairs and maintenance while continuing to run your business...

It’s past overdue for us to look at places like the Science Centre and say ‘what do we need them to be now, what do we need them to be next’? While honoring all the collective memory and all the collective success of an institution like the Science Centre. There is tremendous scope for something really quite wonderful to happen. I think it could break into a couple of stages. The first stage is the collective realization that the Science Centre, with all the things that needs fixed is head and shoulders the the best option to continue to deliver the civilizational impact of a modern interactive Science Centre that helped invent the field and has innovated throughout. There is a tremendous store of passion and expertise in the Science Centre’s staff. One of the great risks of what’s happening now is there simply won’t be the room and there won’t be the commitment to core creativity which is actually what the Science Centre is really about. It’s more than it’s exhibits it’s more than a great building, it’s about people who can build stuff and think of things that no one else can think of. Within the boundaries of that existing building which is purpose built for exactly that kind of activity there is an opportunity for a tremendous renaissance and I would argue a cost effective one.

Lesley Lewis quotes:

...From what I read in the provincial auditor’s report, it was easier and also we did not experience as many of the serious issues as have emerged which is natural. Buildings get older, you expect the landlord to repair them, the landlord does nothing and then the landlord blames the tenant. Well, that’s just not fair. It wasn’t the Ontario Science Centre that led the building to require these repairs, the landlord didn’t take care of it...

...The (engineering report) documents show that you do not have to close the entire building....

Today we live in a time when science literacy has never been more important and that science literacy I’m not just talking about scientists. We need science literate taxi drivers and poets and we all need basic science literacy and it’s as important today as fundamental literacy and reading and writing. Think about the issues we’re facing, issues of climate change, issues of pandemics, issues of vaccines, we need places like the science centre, we can’t afford not to have a science centre because if we do we are going to exude that knowledge base among the general population.
Ontario Science Centre, closed...for now.
21 June, 2024

An abrupt closure of the Ontario Science Centre (OSC) due to concerns that the roof may not be able to withstand upcoming winter snowfall and put attendees lives at risk, ·though it is summer at present. The Ontario government acts preemptively and ceases all operations at the OSC. The structural engineering reports that the current provincial government based their decision off of, can be found here. The OSC was in a state of willful neglect by the government of Ontario for years, and in bad faith, closed down this valued and needed public resource.

A brief visit was warranted to see what the Ford Administration did to the OSC.
Here (below) is professor Noam Chomsky to put things in perspective.
Ontario Place For All presents: 'Rally for Ontario Place!' at Queen's Park
16 October, 2023

Chris Glover, MPP, Spadina Fort York (left) and Norm DiPasquale

Floyd Ruskin, Save Ontario Science Centre co-chair
Attended and filmed / recorded the Rally for Ontario Place! (and the Ontario Science Centre) at Queens Park along with attendant activist speakers listed as follows:
- Norm DiPasquale, Ontario Place for All co-chair (host)
- Marit Stiles, Ontario NDP leader (11:25)
- Mike Schreiner, Ontario Green Party (17:22)
- Mary Margaret McMahon, MPP Ontario Liberal Party (20:11)
- Chris Glover, MPP, Spadina Fort York (23:07)
- Floyd Ruskin, Save Ontario Science Centre co-chair (03:35) and (29:20)
- Stephanie Bowman, MPP, Don Valley West (46:00)
Video captured event below.
Moriyama and Teshima Architects, past, present and future.
10 October, 2023

Starting far left, Ronen Bauer, Carol Phillips, Diarmuid Nash, Urvish Patel, Emmanuelle van Rutten, and Brian Rudy
A productive day recording interviews with staff at Moriyama and Teshima architects while also getting more b-roll footage of the space. It is fun to note and compare changes made to the office since first recording back in 2017. The offices is open concept to encourage collaboration and sharing of ideas where even senior staff do not have private space. Among some questions asked was staff experience with Moriyama and specific projects they collaborated on. Interviews focused on senior staff who did work with Moriyama, though I noticed there is also an emerging, young, diverse number of staff who have not even met Moriyama and will likely take the firm in new, unexpected directions. When one enters the offices of Moriyama and Teshima, one is immediately struck with the history of the place and the Japanese-Canadian design influences. The front has the parallel wood board panels, the fish pool at the entrance, Japanese influenced décor and several unique totems made by Moriyama that blend indigenous Canadian and Japanese cultures.

Above, one of six totems designed and built by Raymond Moriyama

Among most anticipated interviews is with senior partner, Diarmuid Nash, who worked there and collaborated with Moriyama the longest. Nash has the experience and stories that are valued such as when the firm made (and lost) the bid for the Ontario Science Centre renovation during the 1990’s. Nash also worked on several more projects alongside Moriyama due to his tenure.

Moriyama and Teshima have accomplished many interesting projects, but nothing on the vast scale like the Ontario Science Centre (OSC) that launched the firm in the first place, from more modest boutique designs to large scale government contracts. Government investment in education and infrastructure is not what it used to be, so architecture firms are challenged with material and budget constraints. There is obvious excitement, however, with the staff when they discuss projects that facilitate environmental and technological innovation in building and design, such as using repurposed materials or breathing new life in older buildings. The firm are still involved in some of Canada’s most important buildings, but the country is not what it used to be. Moriyama & Teshima is no longer bound by national architecture constraints as they now have a growing and thriving portfolio of international projects.
Save Ontario Place presents 'Rally for the Trees' at West Island, Ontario Place.
23 September, 2023
Attended and filmed the Rally for the Trees by 'Ontario Place for All', hosted by Norm DiPasquale (above, with megaphone) and with several guest speakers. Also spoke with rally attendees who declined to give names, but spoke about why they attended. All speakers focused their talk on the Ontario Place but final speaker, Floyd Ruskin, spoke both about the Ontario Place and the Ontario Science Centre. All in the video below.

Breakdown of list of speakers (for video below):
- Norm Di Pasquale (host)
- Toronto City Councillor, Ausma Malik
- Chris Glover, MPP (06:39)
- Adrian Hough (son of Ontario Place landscape architect, Michael Hough) (11:30)
- Todd Irvine (17:24)
- Floyd Ruskin co-chair of Save the Science Centre (28:18)
Kevin von Appen and Lesley Lewis on the Ontario Science Centre
5 September, 2023

Kevin von Appen, left. Lesley Lewis, right.

Travelled out to Toronto’s East End to visit and interview former director of science communications for the Ontario Science Centre (OSC), Kevin von Appen and former CEO of said building, Lesley Lewis. Both brought insights into what it is like working for and running this special place. They gave unstintingly of their time and experience, as well as showing a trove of pictures, an Ontario Science Centre book, shirt, mug and even an OSC wrist watch.

Kevin’s home felt comfortable because there is almost no corner that does not have a book shelf. That and the fact he serves damn fine coffee that would have made David Lynch and the entire town of Twin Peaks proud. Von Appen has a background in crime reporting for a Hamilton newspaper, but discovered a love for science when writing on environmental issues and this flourished when he applied as science writer / editor for the Ontario Science Centre. In addition to books, von Appen has a cool collection of OSC Memorabilia, including a shirt, mug, book and photos.

Lesley Lewis was executive director of the Ontario Human Rights Commission and the Ontario Heritage Trust before being the longest serving CEO of the Ontario Science Centre (OSC). Lewis also ran the OSC during some of the most tumultuous changes including government budget cuts and a pivot to corporate sponsorship, City-wide outbeaks of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), massive North American power outages, and economic shifts. Lewis also presided over the highest attendance for any Canadian public venue with the human body exhibit aka Bodyworlds at the OSC.

OSC "Timescape" wristwatch.
- education
- Ontario Science Centre
Scott Calbeck and his Magical Imperfection
31 August, 2023

Met with Scott Calbeck, director of the documentary, Magical Imperfection, at Toronto’s Fort York library media room, on the cusp of autumn. I was aware of Magical Imperfection through research and while Calbeck tackles Moriyama’s whole life, the goal of HeartOSC is to try to focus on the Ontario Science Centre (OSC). One of gems of Calbeck’s doc is footage from an interview with Moriyama specifically on the OSC on CBC’s Man Alive, which I find difficult to source. At the core of the Magical Imperfection film are two filmed interviews with Moriyama conducted at about 2014.

During our interview, Calbeck told of reading about the Canadian War Museum and learning about Moriyama and his dramatic upbringing and career in Canada. Calbeck got in touch with Moriyama and before long, visited the then-offices at Moriyama & Teshima architects at 32 Davenport Road later that year. Moriyama and Calbeck developed a years long friendship and a documentary ensued, that took a decade to complete even though they had funding from Rogers. Moriyama, his life and times are an expensive topic that span a world war, social and economic and political shifts and the rise of someone from a once derided class in Canada to become the most celebrated and accomplished national architect. It was great listening to Calbeck to share anecdotes on meeting and getting to know Moriyama.

As an interesting sidenote, one of the last times Calbeck went to the OSC was to hear boxer, Rubin “Hurricane” Carter speak at the OSC in January 2000. Carter was a professional boxer wrongly imprisoned for multiple homicides which he did not commit. This speak to the fact that the OSC is not just a place of science education but also a forum for social justice.

Among other works Calbeck directed include Canadian indigenous literary figure, Pauline Johnson: The Pauline Johnson (1999) Story and was also involved as associate producer for Raw Opium (2010).

Screening of Magical Imperfection at the Japan embassy in Ottawa
Premier Ford announces OSC closure for private commercial interests
1 May, 2023

In this press conference, Ontario Premier Doug Ford and his administration (including ministers Neil Lumsden, Kinga Surma) announce plans to demolish the Ontario Science Centre and build a new smaller science centre at Ontario Place as part of a commercial entertainment and spa complex with a mega parking lot facility to be built under Lake Ontario. The main reason for the Ontario Science Centre closure is based on one statement by Ford,

"...all of us grew up going to the science centre at one time or another, it's tired..." (22:30)

Among the most significant and telling quotes from the conference are:

Ford "...but the numbers were up on the condos, I don't know if you heard, sales are going up, I think it was twenty five percent so we're going in the right directon. Just supply and demand..."(25:35)

Question: "We've heard from people who live in the area near the current science centre and they say that they were never consulted and they feel frustrated that they're going to be losing this tourist attraction in their neghborhood, what do you say to the people of Flemingdon Park?"
Ford: "Well I'm going to say that you're getting a brand new subway station that you never had before... " (33:44)
Michael McClelland interview (excerpt)
20 July, 2017

Visited ERA Architects to interview architect, scholar, and principal of the firm, Michael McClelland. McClelland is a generous person and was kind enough to give a (now treasured) copy of Concrete Toronto: A guide to concrete architecture from the fifties to the seventies. Being from Toronto, I never really paid much attention to how much architecture defines the mood and tone of our city. Toronto has a lot of strange (in a good way) looking, massive concrete buildings. It is great to learn about the ideology and optimism that informs the 'utopian modernist' school of architecture that occurred during the 1950's through to the 1970's. The focal point of our interview is the Ontario Science Centre (OSC), one of the country's best examples of utopian modernist brutalist architecture. I heartily recommend McClelland's overview of brutalist architecture in Toronto that he presented for the ACO 150 Plus symposium at the Ontario Science Centre. McClelland suggests that architecture is similar to people in our society, they become less interesting in middle age. That may explain why the OSC got a facelift to the entrance 'Building A' in it's 30's!
Prof Marco Polo interview (excerpt)
17 July, 2017

Professor of Architectural Sciences, Marco Polo at Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson) is a ‘keeper of the light’ for knowledge on Canadian national identity, something not often considered by Canadians. Canada is mostly a country of immigrants, colonized by French and British empires. Canadian architecture prior to the 1950’s reflects this. With the approach of theCentennial of Confederation in 1967, the government at the time believed Canada must set aside colonialist roots and cultivate its own national identity in the arts, sciences and letters and that architecture can facilitate. Then-Canadian Prime Minister, John Diefenbaker, called on architects to build infrastructure unique to Canada, hence the Centennial Projects. This is how the Ontario Science Centre (OSC) came to be. Professor Polo covers all this and more with his surpassing presentation at the 50th anniversary of the OSC, the ACO 150 plus symposium. The presentation caused such a splash with attendees that it rippled into the ongoing documentation that is HeartOSC.

Since the Centennial projects were built, from the 1950’s through to the 1970’s, some remain but other are lost. What became of the Centennial projects since then? This is covered in a book professor Polo co-authored with professor, Colin Ripley: Architecture and National Identity: The Centennial Projects 50 Years On. Here is an interview excerpt with professor Marco Polo on said book and the OSC:
Meet Don Cooper and Anson Finlay of Moriyama & Teshima
19 June, 2017

Visited the home of Anson Finlay, retired architect of Moriyama & Teshima , and also visiting was 'architecture concept artist' and 'model builder', Don Cooper, retired. Both sat down to interviews to recall meeting and then going to work for Raymond Moriyama. Cooper met Moriyama at Ryerson Polytechnic (before it became a University) where the former attended drawing lectures by the latter. Moriyama saw potential in Cooper and encouraged him to take life drawing classes to further hone his skill. Moriyama set up his first architectural practice office in then-hipster district of Yorkville, Toronto in 1958 and as jobs came in, hired Cooper on an ad-hoc basis to build models and develop sketches and was therefore first employee.

Anson Finlay is from Saskatchewan where he studied architecture and the moved to British Columbia to continue education and get experience on projects. joined the firm later, in 1966, following the career and ground breaking (for the time) works of Raymond Moriyama such as the golf course shelter, dubbed the 'half way house', and witnessed construction of the original Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre (JCCC) at 123 Wynford Drive. Finlay realized that Moriyama was 'the future', and who he wanted to work with and wrote a letter to express this. Moriyama wrote back to come East and join the firm as they were going on a hiring expansion to take on a major new project. Finlay moved to Toronto with his family where he had two major projects
John Snell, Ontario Science Centre project manager.
25 May, 2017

John Snell, project architect, left

Visited the home of John Snell, architect and firm principal of Moriyama & Teshima , now retired. Recorded an interview in Snell's home library / study where he told of early years working with Raymond Moriyama. John Snell began tenure with Moriyama & Teshima in 1966 as one of the most experienced staff members at the time. Snell studied architecture at University of Toronto for three years and worked the Trans Canada Pipeline to pay school tuition. Snell then moved to United Kingdom and continued his architecture studies at Regent Street Polytechnic while working on several construction projects. Snell followed the career of Moriyama & Teshima and it was when he visited Toronto in 1964 and saw the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre (JCCC) project that clinched his decision to work for M&T. When Moriyama got the Ontario Science Centre (OSC) bid and went on hiring expansion, Snell wrote in to apply and his combination of education and experience made him a prime candidate as project manager, in 1966. At the time, Moriyama & Teshima offices were being relocated to accommodate growing staff from 711 Church Street location to the new offices at 32 Davenport Road, which was still under construction. Snell was situated at the OSC construction site and saw it to successful completion. He made M&T firm principal in 1969.
Presenters of the ACO 150 Plus symposium at the Ontario Science Centre
21 April, 2017

A day of immersion in Canadian architecture history featuring an impressive array of panelists including scholars and legendary architect, Eb Zeidler , who designed the Ontario Place, Eaton Centre and oversaw the renovation of 'Building A' of the Ontario Science Centre during the 1990's. Eb Zeidler's recollections and notes on the ideation of the Ontario Place is one of the great highlights of the day.

Additional highlights include Michael McClelland, editor of Concrete Toronto: a guidebook to concrete architecture from the fifties to the seventies. McClelland defined brutalist architecture as “sublime, expressing immense power and strength” and presented Toronto's more notable modernist-brutalist buildings, such as the Robart’s library at U of T. McClelland highlights how some buildings are hated, others demolished, and then later revered down the road.

Ryerson University school of architecture, Professor Marco Polo gave a comprehensive presentation on the architecture of Canadian Centennial Projects . Polo shows the doctrine that led to the Centennial celebration of 1967 and attendant infrastructure projects. Brutalism in architecture was the style of the time and effort and Prof Polo explains it. Starting with the Fathers of Confederation Memorial building in Prince Edward Island, other provinces wanted buildings just like it. Thus was born the Centennial project which extended to other infrastructure like parks, schools and bridges.

Also met architecture photographer, Vik Pahwa, who gave pointers on how to capture structures as vast and unwieldy as the Ontario Science Centre. He also runs an excellent website blog where he documents images captured. Pahwa's focus is mainly on architecture and infrastructure with an emphasis on mid century buildings.
Images of the Ontario Science Centre, below, by Vik Pahwa

Images of the Ontario Science Centre, above, by Vik Pahwa

Vik Pahwa at the OSC
Raymond Moriyama, Ontario Science Centre architect featured for 'ACO 150 Plus'.
5 April, 2017

Raymond Moriyama, celebrated architect of the Ontario Science Centre (OSC) agreed to be interviewed by the Architecture Conservancy of Ontario (ACO) for the 50th anniversary aka the ACO 150 Plus symposium. While Moriyama will not attend the symposium, by way of compromise, he agreed to a video interview. The ACO just needed ten minutes of footage, but Moriyama was effusive and spoke for about three hours. Among topics covered were Moriyama's childhood internment in Slocan, BC, education, starting a fledgling architecture practice during his 30's, being summoned to develop the OSC, ideation, iteration, the opening, subsequent projects and the future of architecture and Canada. Here is a brief distillation, but not the whole enchilada.