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The Lonsdale waterfront in North Vancouver is about to be presented with a major public arts facility as exterior work continues to shape the new home of the Presentation House Gallery. The venue for photographic art has earned itself a rich reputation over its three-decade lifetime, hosting more than 300 exhibitions and displays from local and international artists, including Vancouver photographers Stan Douglas and Fred Herzog and world-famous artists Ansel Adams and Andy Warhol.
Local award-winning practice Patkau Architects has designed the gleaming Polygon Gallery, which features an extroverted plaza level fully glazed to encourage public interaction and animation. Street-facing retail space is provided, while a bar and cafe overlooks the water with panoramic views of the Vancouver skyline. The upper level contains the major gallery spaces, which are flexible and naturally top-lit. An event and education gallery provides a multi-functional space for private functions, including banquets, performances, lectures, meetings, and workshops.
A sawtooth elevation adds visual interest to the closed mass of the upper level. Beyond its cantilevered position above the permeable ground floor, this level is clad in crumpled stainless shingles that will catch the light and shimmer under disparate light conditions. New photos from the site show the reflective panels being installed onto the finished skeleton of the building.
The new facility will contain 19,000 square feet of space, representing a doubling of the current exhibition area. Purpose-built galleries to accommodate newer types of contemporary art will allow the Polygon Gallery to expand the breadth of cultural opportunities offered to residents and visitors. A $4 million combined gift from Polygon Homes and the Audain Foundation was supported by contributions of $2.5 million each from the City of North Vancouver and both upper levels of government. The project also received a $750,000 gift from the Chan Family Foundation. Construction is expected to wrap up later this year.
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