VICTORIA – Construction has started on the Royal BC Museum’s (RBCM) collections and research building (CRB) in Victoria.
The new 15,20-square-metre building will use mass timber and will house the province’s collections and BC Archives, and will feature dedicated research labs, learning spaces and more public access to materials.
“The provincial collections and archives help us to share the stories of our cultures and communities. It’s vital to ensure they’re kept safe for future generations. This exceptional facility will also provide a window into the world of the museum, enabling visitors to see our paleontologists, entomologists, botanists, zoologists and more, engaged in active research projects,” said RBCM acting CEO Tracey Drake in a press release.
Maple Reinders Constructors Ltd. was awarded a $204.8-million contract in February 2023 for the design and construction of the CRB in Colwood. Total capital project costs for the CRB are estimated at $270 million, the release said.
Building a new separate facility will ensure the collections are properly stored and safeguarded and meet international best practices and standards, the release added, and previously some of the items at risk from flooding included archival books and manuscripts, rare and priceless artworks such as watercolours from the 1700s, several paintings by Emily Carr and early provincial maps.
The collections building is expected to be open to the public by summer 2026.
Recent Comments