Location Description
THEMUSEUM was built as a department store in 1925 and underwent extensive renovations circa 2000, with the four above-ground floors reconfigured around a central atrium, a feature “cheese wall,” and a floating glass staircase. On the upper floors, the features include: a street-facing storefront with separate entrance; lobby and coat room; open atrium space that can seat 100-200; low-light toddler sensory room; elevator bank with two elevators; large lounge space with bar and stage; a streetscape installation that includes small-scale facades of a movie theatre with marquee and two storefronts; the Science and Technology Playground with a science stage, walking piano, inflatable planetarium, and other STEAM learning installations; a multi-use flex space; an immersive digital gallery; a “dance floor” and full suite of projectors and speakers; and a gallery with 5-6 room subdivisions. The gallery is for travelling exhibitions and frequently undergoes changes to layout via temporary walls and build features/paints. The below ground level features makerspace with workstations and a small woodshop, 3 small classrooms, and backrooms servicing the facility from fabrication to laundry and storage. The museum is located in downtown Kitchener with very limited outdoor space. Parking is available in an attached garage. Loading dock in a back laneway shared with a neighboring building (it cannot accommodate a full-size 53' truck). Larger load-ins cannot take place during hours when the main museum spaces are open to public use.