Museum of Anthropology Great Hall Renewal

Updated: October 4, 2023
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The proposal is for renewal of the Great Hall to the Museum of Anthropology (Development Permit 19025), including the reconstruction of the Great Hall on seismic base isolators; fire protection upgrades; skylight and lighting replacement; and the addition of roll-down shading.

Beginning January 16, 2023, the Museum of Anthropology will temporarily close to the public to accelerate the completion of the seismic upgrades to its iconic Great Hall. The rebuild of the Great Hall will be completed and the museum will reopen in June 2024.

Location

6393 NW Marine Dr, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z2

Proponents

UBC Infrastructure Development

Project Overview

MOA great hall

The Museum of Anthropology (MOA) is an iconic and beloved place of world arts and cultures that is renowned for its unique exhibitions of world art and culture, with a special emphasis on the First Nations peoples and other cultural communities of British Columbia. As well as being a major tourist destination, MOA plays a vital role as a teaching and research museum.

This Fall, preparations will begin for a rebuild of its Great Hall to upgrade the resiliency of the museum and protect its irreplaceable collection in the event of a major earthquake. When the project is complete the Great Hall will look like it does now with some improvements, including new lighting and carpeting. MOA is also currently under construction for other building upgrades, such as updates to its skylights, lighting, roofing, window coverings and fire protection. Together, these improvements will better showcase and protect the collection. MOA’s landscape will also be fully remediated once construction is complete.

Video: Learn about the MOA Great Hall Renewal

Project Considerations

MOA great hall

During the planning process over the past year, technical studies revealed that it would not be feasible to achieve improved seismic performance of the Great Hall’s existing structure. To retrofit the existing structure would mean greatly compromising its architectural integrity, and so it was determined that a complete rebuild of the Great Hall is the best approach to upgrade its seismic resiliency while retaining Arthur Erickson’s intent and vision.

MOA has important heritage value for UBC and a rebuild of the Great Hall involves a sensitive approach, one that follows conservation principles that address both the heritage values and character-defining elements of the site and the building. Feedback from the Arthur Erickson Foundation has shaped the architectural and construction approach to the project. Likewise, the Musqueam Indian Band has participated in the planning process.

In preparation for the seismic upgrades, all of the massive wooden carvings that reside in the Great Hall will be lowered and relocated elsewhere in the museum ahead of the construction. 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. The safety and protection of these irreplaceable Indigenous objects is of the highest priority to MOA’s team, who will ensure they are well cared for before and during construction.

Attachments

Document Contents
C+CP Open House Info UBC Campus + Community Planning information on the project background and planning process.
Project Summary Project design team summary of the architectural project scope and landscape protection and restoration.
Architectural Plans Architectural plans for the Great Hall renewal.
Landscape Plans Landscape plans for the Great Hall renewal.
Updated Landscape Plans Updated landscape and pond reinstatement plans - June 20, 2023
Tree Protection Plan

Arborist's report and inventory.

Animation

A short animation showing the MOA moving on base isolators
Animation courtesy of Equilibrium Consulting Inc.

Watch a short animation of the new based isolated Great Hall at the Museum of Anthropology "dancing" under seismic loads. 

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

Project Timeline

Summer 2017
Great Hall prioritized for seismic upgrades
Summer 2017

Great Hall prioritized for seismic upgrades

As part of ongoing UBC seismic planning, the Great Hall was determined to have a high level of seismic risk.

Fall 2018
Public announcement about the MOA renewal project.
Fall 2018

Public announcement about the MOA renewal project.

Work begins on roof replacement along with project planning for seismic upgrades to Great Hall. Removal of objects in Great Hall begins.

Winter/Spring 2019
A complete rebuild of the Great Hall is decided as the best approach
Winter/Spring 2019

A complete rebuild of the Great Hall is decided as the best approach

During the project planning process, it was determined that a complete rebuild was the best approach to upgrading the resiliency of the space without compromising its architectural integrity.

Summer 2019
Project is presented to UBC’s Advisory Urban Design Panel, Arthur Erikson Foundation and others
Summer 2019

Project is presented to UBC’s Advisory Urban Design Panel, Arthur Erikson Foundation and others

The presentation shared information to shape the architectural and construction approach to the project.

Fall 2019
MOA’s 70th Anniversary Celebration
Fall 2019

MOA’s 70th Anniversary Celebration

MOA celebrates its 70th anniversary.

June 18, 2020
Development Permit Application
June 18, 2020

Development Permit Application

Application received by UBC Development Services

June 19, 2020
Public comment period open
June 19, 2020

Public comment period open

Public comment period is open from June 19th - July 7th, 2020.

June 25, 2020
Development Review Committee
June 25, 2020

Development Review Committee

Review by the UBC Development Review Committee.

June 29, 2020
Virtual public open house
June 29, 2020

Virtual public open house

Virtual public open house event 4:30 - 6:30 pm with project design team and Campus and Community Planning staff. 

Fall 2020
All objects from the Great Hall relocated and Great Hall no longer accessible to the public
Fall 2020

All objects from the Great Hall relocated and Great Hall no longer accessible to the public

Starting mid-September, all objects from Great Hall will be relocated elsewhere in the museum, and a hoarding wall will be erected in mid-October, closing the Great Hall from public access. 

2021-2023
Construction is Underway
2021-2023

Construction is Underway

Great Hall will be taken down and then rebuilt with base isolation technology. MOA remains open to the public.

January 16, 2023
MOA temporarily closes
January 16, 2023

MOA temporarily closes

MOA temporarily closes to the public to accelerate the completion of the project.

June 2024
Project complete
June 2024

Project complete

Great Hall construction is anticipated to be completed and MOA to reopen in June 2024.

Contact

Karen Russell

Manager, Development Services
(604) 822-1586