National Gallery of Canada

The museum and collection

Founded in 1880, the National Gallery of Canada is home to the most important collections of historical and contemporary Canadian art in the world. In June 2017, to celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary, the Gallery unveiled an unprecedented narrative of Canadian and Indigenous art, through the complete renovation of its permanent collection galleries (4300m², divided into 14 rooms). The new installation displays close to 800 works of art – paintings, sculptures, works on paper, decorative arts and photographs – by Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists in dialogue. It is the first major transformation of the Gallery’s collection galleries since 1988.

The Gallery’s design team worked with internationally-renowned museum design firm Studio Adrien Gardère to reconfigure the galleries and incorporate the most up-to-date LED lighting technology, accessibility standards and custom-made display cases to bring artworks closer to viewers and create an enhanced visitor experience.

The assignment

We were selected through a tender process to provide 50 custom-made cases of various types: 4 table display cases, 9 hanging wall cases, 7 recessed wall cases and 29 freestanding showcases. All cases featured anti-reflective glass, passive climate controls and LED lights with adjustable and dimmable fixtures.

The project: challenges & result

“The project timeline was extremely tight, less than a year. While Meyvaert’s services were formally retained in February 2017, some of the case designs were already completed in September 2017. The dedicated project manager assigned played a critical role in ensuring that decisions were made in due time, recorded and circulated. While rigorous in their time management, Meyvaert also proved to be flexible in its willingness to explore design options and technical solutions where needed. Communication was effective and open, and there was a clear understanding of the challenges and expectations tied to an initiative of this scope. The installation crew working on site for 6 weeks was highly skilled, reliable and organized. They completed the installation on schedule. Since the opening, the Gallery has received enthusiastic praises for the quality and elegant design of the cases, especially for its anti-reflective glass. The National Gallery of Canada is grateful to have had Meyvaert as a trusted partner throughout the project.”

- Anne Eschapasse
Deputy Director Exhibitions and Outreach, National Gallery of Canada