The Royal BC Museum Comprehensive Redevelopment
Update: On May 26, 2011, Victoria City Council approved the Royal BC Museum application for rezoning. Thank you all for the tremendous support and encouragement.
The next phase of work will include the development of a functional program plan for the museum and archives. While the process of securing a design architect has yet to be determined, it is anticipated that this phase of the project will take up to 2 years to complete before it comes back to the community and the City of Victoria for further consultation.
The Royal BC Museum is embarking on a journey of change - and the foundation for that change and achieving our vision, is a zone for our site which reflects all its current, and potential uses. Without the zone being defined - which provides us certainty about what activities, buildings, commercial and non-profit operations can exist here - we cannot move forward to achieve our vision.
A City is planned through the zones it creates. Urban planners are guided by the dreams of institutions like us, and by the people that live in their communities. Just as the human history and natural history collections are the foundation for our museum and archives; the zoning decision that will be made by the City of Victoria for our site is the foundation for what we will build here. Together, we want to create something special here on this site - a revitalized Royal BC Museum - for this generation and future generations. A place that evokes what is special about British Columbia - a place that we will all be proud of.
We've been a key part of British Columbia since 1886, and we plan on being a vibrant, visible and relevant institution for more than another 100 years - anchored here in beautiful Victoria - the province's Capital City. We believe we will have one opportunity to get the zone right - to make sure we identify all current and potential uses that one could find here. The zone will capture uses which range from protecting existing parklands, to creating new infrastructure which will preserve and showcase these priceless collections for years into the future.
This is your museum and your archives. What we do here isn't just for this generation, it's for our kids and grandkids - and great grandkids. Explore this website - see where we've come from, why we're embarking on this path now, and what needs to be done. Join us at our public open houses. Let your voice be heard. We look forward to your participation. We are more than a museum. We are you. We are British Columbia.