Museum of Anthropology Great Hall Renewal

This Fall 2020, the Museum of Anthropology (MOA) will begin preparations for a rebuild of its Great Hall to upgrade the seismic resiliency of the space and protect its irreplaceable collection in the event of a major earthquake. As part of a larger renewal project, the museum is also currently receiving other building improvements, such as updates to its skylights, lighting, roofing, window coverings and fire protection.

As part of ongoing seismic planning, UBC conducted a comprehensive evaluation of seismic risk across all campus buildings to assess, plan, and prioritize upgrades to buildings or areas within the buildings that have the highest seismic risk. MOA’s Great Hall was determined to have a high level of seismic risk and therefore was prioritized for upgrade.

During the project planning process, it was determined that it would not be feasible to achieve improved seismic performance to the Great Hall while retaining the existing structural elements. A complete rebuild of the Great Hall was determined as the best approach to upgrading the resiliency of the space without compromising its architectural integrity.

UBC and MOA acknowledge that the museum is built on the traditional, ancestral and unceded land of the Musqueam people. Musqueam Indian Band has participated in the planning process.

MOA is considered to have important heritage value for UBC. The rebuild of the Great Hall involves a sensitive approach that will follow conservation principles that address both the heritage values and character-defining elements of the site and the building. Feedback from Arthur Erickson Foundation has shaped the architectural and construction approach to the project. The new rebuild for the Great Hall will retain the appearance of the original space to preserve its architectural character and heritage values. When the project is complete the building will look like it does now with some improvements, including new lighting and carpeting.

MOA will also receive some other building improvements, such as updates to its skylights, lighting, roofing, window coverings and fire protection – some of this work has been underway for the past year. Together, these improvements will better showcase and protect the collection. MOA’s landscape will also be fully remediated once construction is complete.

Preparations for the Great Hall seismic upgrades began in fall 2020, when the massive wooden carvings that reside in the Great Hall will be lowered and relocated elsewhere in the museum. The Great Hall closed to the public in December 2020 and construction began in earnest. The project has been underway throughout 2021 and 2022. 

Beginning January 26, 2023, the entire museum will temporarily close to the public to accelerate the completion of the Great Hall seismic upgrades. The rebuild of the Great Hall will be completed and the museum will reopen in late 2023. 

All objects from the Great Hall, including more than 20 massive carvings, will be temporarily located elsewhere in the museum in time for construction. Some of the poles have already been lowered and are available to the public to see. This unique collection will be reinstalled into the Great Hall once construction is complete. 

MOA is liaising with Indigenous communities and families whose cultural objects are being moved from the Great Hall. They will continue to provide input into protocols around moving and re-installing these works into the Great Hall post-construction. MOA’s team will ensure the irreplaceable Indigenous objects will be well cared for before and during construction.

Preparations for the Great Hall seismic upgrades began in fall 2020, and during this time the museum remained opened to the public with its other exhibition spaces. In December 2020, the Great Hall was closed with a construction hoarding wall and that portion of the museum was no longer accessible to the public. 

Beginning January 16, 2023, the entire museum will temporarily close to the public to accelerate the completion of the Great Hall seismic upgrades. The rebuild of the Great Hall will be completed and the museum will reopen in late 2023.