News Releases
Government Home Search Sitemap Contact Us  


March 30, 2000
(Tourism, Culture and Recreation)


Premier and minister unveil concept design for The Rooms

Premier Brian Tobin and Charles Furey, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, today unveiled the concept design for The Rooms, a new $40 million facility which will house the Newfoundland Museum, the Art Gallery of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Provincial Archives. They were joined by Mr. Philip Pratt of PHB Group, the company contracted to design the new facility.

"The Rooms embodies the cultural values of our society and will make an artistic as well as an architectural statement," said Premier Tobin. "This facility will not only contain our heritage treasures, but will be symbolic of the structures that used to cover the entire shoreline of the province. The fishing industry has been the backbone of both our economy and culture, and the architecture of this building will serve to continually remind us of these important historical roots."

The Rooms will integrate the museum, srchives and art gallery into one multi-purpose facility, while maintaining their individuality. The concept of The Rooms salutes the traditional lifestyle and unique language of the province. "Rooms" were those buildings on the shoreline where fish was processed and where nets and other fishing equipment were stored. The name allows for the separation of functions within the building so that you may have the museum at "The Rooms," the art gallery at "The Rooms" and the archives at "The Rooms." "The Rooms" is a common link to our heritage and very appropriate for the new heritage facility.

"We are very pleased with this conceptual design, which we have reviewed with the various stakeholder groups in the arts and heritage communities," said Minister Furey. "In addition, we are creating a special web site for The Rooms, where individuals can obtain up-to-date information about the progress of this venture. This facility will belong to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador as a representation of our rich cultural heritage, which is unlike anywhere in the world."

The building will be a major addition to the skyline, without dominating it, and will fit in well with the other institutional and religious buildings in the neighbourhood. The design integrates the technical needs of the three institutions and the public uses to which the building will be put, resulting in a state-of-the-art facility which reflects our cultural values.

"When we announced this project back in December 1999, government renewed our commitment to preserving and promoting our cultural heritage, a heritage unlike any other in the world, of which we are justly proud," added Premier Tobin. "The cultural specimens, archival documents and works of art which have been accumulated over the years in these three provincial institutions are resources of global significance, and must be preserved and exhibited in the best possible manner."

Archeological work will begin this spring, with construction of the facility commencing in September 2000. The Rooms is scheduled to be open to the public by March 2003.

Media contact:

Heidi Bonnell, Office of the Premier, (709) 729-3564
Mary MacNab, Communications, (709) 729-0928, or (709) 682-0366.

2000 03 30 10:00 a.m.


SearchHomeBack to GovernmentContact Us


All material copyright the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. No unauthorized copying or redeployment permitted. The Government assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of any material deployed on an unauthorized server.
Disclaimer/Copyright/Privacy Statement