New Brunswick Museum design unveiled, $108M in funding secured
Museum in Saint John will contribute $23.7M to construction through planned capital campaign
The design of the revitalized New Brunswick Museum has been unveiled, and nearly $108 million in government funding for its construction secured.
The former museum building in Saint John's north end will be updated and expanded to house research, exhibition, and community spaces under one roof, while its historical limestone facade will be maintained, officials announced Monday at the Douglas Avenue site.
The province will invest $58 million, after the Higgs government previously cancelled $50 million pledged by the former Liberal government for a new home for the museum. The federal government will provide $49.9 million. The museum will contribute the remaining $23.7 million through an upcoming capital campaign.
Tammy Scott-Wallace, minister of tourism, heritage and culture, described the announcement as "a long time coming," noting 44 iterations have been put to paper over the past 50 years.
"And here we are today making it real," she said. "I guess the 45th time is the charm.'
Premier Blaine Higgs said it "takes a while to get it right."
"I think when you see what we're about to present today, you will say, 'Wow, you got it right,'" he told the crowd.
He has no regrets about leaving the then-$100-million project slated for the former Coast Guard site on the waterfront out of the 2019-20 capital budget.
"Not a bit," Higgs told reporters. "We can afford it at this time.
"And do you see the design? Compare it to any other previous designs. They don't even come close."
It's also the ideal location, said Higgs. "You know, there was a lot of debate — where it should go? Should it be here, should it be there? For me and I think for my colleagues, there wasn't a debate. This was the site
He noted the site once served as a portage area for Indigenous people and European settlers.
"It's just part of the heritage that we share — Black history, the Acadians, the Loyalists, the First Nations, it's all going to be a component of this museum, and there just isn't another location that suits it like this one."
The museum will become an icon for New Brunswick, and a destination, said Higgs, calling it an exciting day for all New Brunswick residents.
"This renewed infrastructure will be a place to preserve and showcase our province's natural and cultural history for generations to come," he said.
Saint John Rothesay MP Wayne Long, who attended on behalf of federal Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Minister Sean Fraser, said the museum revitalization project has been on his office whiteboard for a long time, and he's thrilled to see it come to fruition.
"This generational investment solidifies the New Brunswick Museum's history and rightful future right here in our city," he said.
Tracy Clinch, the museum board's new chair was unable to attend in person but offered comments via video. She said the project represents an important milestone in the museum's 182-year history.
"It's a testament to our commitment to preserving New Brunswick's rich heritage while embracing sustainability and innovation," Clinch said.
The design, created by Toronto-based architectural firm Diamond Schmitt, takes inspiration from the location — one of the great vantage points in Saint John, said Donald Schmitt,design principal with the firm. It "embraces the rich history of New Brunswick's heritage and natural landscape."
It includes a new, accessible main entrance, a multi-storey public great room, nine exhibition galleries, flexible spaces designed for educational programs, community events and public gatherings, as well as a rooftop terrace.
The facade of the historic wing will front a library and archival reading room, a 115-seat auditorium, and administrative spaces, while the ground and basement floors include expanded storage, conservation and research spaces, according to a news release issued by the firm.
The interior of the five new wings to the north will be characterized by wood finishes and stone tile, as well as an abundance of natural light from large windows and skylights, it said.
The new 134,000-square-foot building will be more energy-efficient and is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 32 per cent, according to the federal government.
"This is a museum project for the past, present and future of New Brunswick, prioritizing archives and conservation capabilities, major exhibition galleries, community and education spaces, and environmental sustainability through our goal of zero-carbon certification," said Schmitt.
The museum is expected to open in the spring of 2026.
The museum's exhibition centre at Market Square has been closed for nearly two years, following a series of leaks, while artifacts from the Douglas Avenue have been in storage.
Founded in 1842, the New Brunswick Museum is considered the oldest continuing museum in Canada.