The Spiral Stairs at the Art Gallery of Ontario

摘要

Transformation AGO is the recently completed renovation of the Art Gallery of Ontario by Frank Gehry. Within the building, visitors are intuitively drawn to Walker Court, the heart of the AGO bathed in natural light. The focal point of Walker Court is the Feature Spiral Staircase. From the ground floor the stair is experienced as a sculptural form clad in douglas fir panels. Upon entering the staircase at the 2nd floor level, visitors travel through the roof of Walker Court and upward 90 ft on the north elevation of the new Contemporary Tower with landings on the 3~(rd), 4th, and 5th floors. On the south elevation, an enclosed staircase, clad in stainless steel and glass, cantilevers 30 ft from the face of the building directly above the 4th oldest surviving building in Toronto. The staircase has been dubbed the "Barnacle Stair" for the manner in which it appears to cling to the face of the Contemporary Tower. This paper will provide an overview of the design and construction processes related to the two monumental stairs.