A new face for ROM: Hennick Entrance and Court to open in Spring 2027

TORONTO, November 10, 2026 — After three years of construction, the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) will reopen its Bloor Street doors in May 2027 with the unveiling of Hennick Entrance and Court, a landmark initiative that will give the Museum a commanding new presence on Bloor Street. As visitors step across the threshold of the entrance, they will arrive in Hennick Court, a sweeping and newly designed welcome area that will display some of ROM’s most iconic objects.  

The project also includes a new outdoor water feature that wraps around the Museum’s heritage façade at Queen’s Park and Bloor Street, creating a public gathering place at one of Toronto’s most notable intersections. Together, these elements connect the Museum with the city, from the street corner to the galleries within. A formal public opening date will be announced in early 2027.

Designed by renowned Canadian architect Siamak Hariri of Hariri Pontarini Architects, Hennick Entrance is a fully reimagined and accessible entryway. A sweeping bronze canopy reaches out to the sidewalk, and floor-to-ceiling glass opens the Museum’s contemporary architectural wing to the street. Framed by a transformed corner, the design offers pedestrians dramatic sightlines into the Museum and offers a warm welcome to the neighbourhood.

Inside, Hennick Court is a spacious entrance foyer that doubles as a public gallery. Visible from the street, its installations will include the historic Ming Dynasty Temple Bell of Wei Bin and a 1.4-tonne amethyst geode, among others, sparking a sense of wonder the moment visitors step inside.

“Within the new Hennick Entrance and Court, these installations will offer visitors an immediate encounter with the depth and diversity of ROM’s collections of art, culture, and nature from around the world and across the ages. We’re thrilled to be opening the doors of the Museum even further with this project, an important step in the Museum’s ongoing transformation,” said Nicholas R. Bell, ROM Director & CEO. “This is all thanks to Jay and Barbara Hennick and the Hennick Family Foundation – longtime supporters of ROM – who understand that, as Canada’s most visited museum, ROM is both a cornerstone of civic life and a must-see destination for visitors to our country’s largest city.”

“Great cities are defined by their great institutions, and for more than a century ROM has been one of Toronto’s finest,” said Jay and Barbara Hennick. “Curiosity is one of the most enduring gifts we can pass on to the next generation. We are proud to help write the Museum’s next chapter, and we hope it brings more people inside to discover something that stays with them for a lifetime.”

“ROM is an iconic cultural treasure in Ontario, with incredible programming and exhibitions that visitors of all ages can enjoy,” said Zee Hamid, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming. “The opening of the Hennick Entrance and Hennick Court next May will mark an exciting chapter in the Museum’s future and offer unprecedented public access to some of ROM’s most remarkable objects in a beautiful new space. I look forward to the grand opening and encourage everyone to come see the new public gallery and stay for the wonderfully curated exhibitions and experiences within the Museum.”

The opening of Hennick Entrance and Hennick Court marks the latest milestone in OpenROM, a multi-year revitalization project that is grounded in ROM’s overarching vision to create an even more open, welcoming, and engaging experience for visitors. 

It builds on previous elements of the project, which include the December 2025 reopening of the expanded and reimagined James and Louise Temerty Galleries of the Age of Dinosaurs, a visitor favourite. The project will also create an additional 6,000 square feet of gallery and display space on the Museum’s second and third floors, including the previously announced Gallery of Sikh Art & Culture.  

The opening of the new Bloor Street Hennick Entrance will offer an additional access point to the Museum, complementing the historic Weston Entrance on Queen's Park, which will remain open. 

Further updates on OpenROM gallery plans and free access initiatives will be shared at the Spring 2027 opening.

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Image credit: Rendering © Hariri Pontarini Architects

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