The Ontario Science Centre has a new temporary home at the Harbourfront Centre. Here’s what you need to know

Shovels are in the ground at the new Ontario Science Centre, which the province calls a ‘major milestone’ in its Ontario Place overhaul.

The Ontario Science Centre is now open at the Harbourfront Centre.

The Ford government announced the opening of the temporary centre on Monday, as the permanent location is not expected to be up and running until 2029. The original facility abruptly closed in 2024 after the province deemed its roof unsafe.

“By establishing the Ontario Science Centre’s temporary home at Harbourfront Centre, our government is ensuring families, students and visitors can continue to access world-class science programming as we build a new, expanded and state-of-the-art Ontario Science Centre steps away at Ontario Place,” Tourism Minister Stan Cho said in a news release.

Moving the facility to the Harbourfront Centre in the meantime will attract more visitors to the area, Cho adds, and support local businesses and jobs.

Visitors can expect an “expanded science experience” at the waterfront location, according to the province, which will eventually operate indoor and outdoor areas for exhibitions and workshops across roughly 86,000 square feet once its fully operational.

The province says there will be some hands-on learning activities at the centre, like the Space Deck, an immersive planetarium with interactive space-themed exhibitions.

There is also the Innovation Station, which allows visitors to experiment and build with a variety of materials and tools, as well as an outdoor learning space called Curiosity Commons, where guests can test their athleticism and learn about the “science behind motion, athletic performance and sport.”

The provincial government says these exhibits and spaces are part of the first phase of the temporary space. They say that more will launch later this year.

Construction of the new Ontario Science Centre started in May, which is set to take up 400,000 square feet of waterfront real estate. About one-third of the space will be dedicated to exhibit space, the province previously announced.

Critics of the relocation deemed the move unnecessary, as the roof of the former site is still intact following two snowy winters and record rainfall in 2024.

Those planning to visit the temporary facility at the waterfront can review its website for more details about programing and hours of operation.