Allan Gardens Conservatory Palm House Heritage Building Restoration

The Palm House building is closed during construction. The Conservatory is open to the public but the indoor public washrooms are closed. Portable washrooms are available in the parking lot area, near the playground. Two of the portable washrooms (one is accessible) are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The City is restoring the historic Palm House building at Allan Gardens Conservatory. The improvements will include window glazing, glass cladding replacement and functional modernization of the ventilation and air quality systems and controls. The current Palm House opened in 1910 following a fire that destroyed the previous pavilion. This vital work will preserve and improve an iconic Toronto building for future generations to enjoy.

  • August 2022: Hire a construction team
  • October 2022: Construction starts
  • May 2024: Construction complete

The timeline is subject to change.

April 2023

Construction Update

Cleaning to remove coating and corrosion from the building’s steel structure is taking place from April to June 2023.

March 2023

Construction Update

By the end of March, the necessary interior scaffolding platforms will be installed so that the existing interior access ladder can be disassembled and removed.

A photograph with four images (one larger main images and three smaller images below it) showing the interior work happening at the Palm House building. The main large image shows the domed roof with two contractors while under construction. From left to right, there is an image of the sides of the domed roof with scaffolding, then an image that focuses on the centre of the domed roof and lighting, and then an image that focuses on the scaffolding platform around the perimeter of the Palm House.

February 2023

Construction Update

Preparation work continues. Work platforms and protective enclosure scaffolding will be installed to the interior and exterior of the building the first week of March. The interior concrete floor has been installed.

A photograph with two images side by side showing the interior and exterior work happening at the Palm House building. On the left, shows the exterior entrance of the building taken at ground level which has a door boarded up with wood surrounded by tall steel scaffolding from the ground to the top of the building. On the right, shows the interior of the building taken looking up towards the domed roof, which shows with steel scaffolding and various platforms.

A photograph of the interior of the building which shows the completed cement flooring covered by a protective layer of plywood sheeting.

January 2023

Construction Update (interior building)

Preparation work in the interior of the Palm House building for the new concrete floor is ongoing. The concrete floor will be installed the first week of February.

A photograph of the interior of the Palm House building taken from above that shows a large steel bar grid along the floor in preparation for concrete pouring. The photograph shows a majority of the building, including the glass walls and domed roof.

A photograph of the interior of the Palm House building taken from ground-level that shows a steel bar grid along the floor in preparation for concrete pouring.

Construction Update (exterior building)

The steel scaffolding structure is installed. The scaffolding framework platform will be enveloped in fire retardant fabric by the end of January. The staff parking lot at the west side of the Palm House has re-opened.

A photograph of the steel scaffolding structure at Allan Gardens Palm House which shows a tall framework structure with platforms and steel beams.

December 2022

Scaffolding Installation

Due to winter weather, the scaffolding framework installation has been postponed and will now be completed on January 9 and January 10, 2023. The staff parking lot at the west side of the Palm House will be closed during this time to accommodate the crane and large materials like beams and plywood.

October 2022

Construction Started

On October 21, 2022, construction for the Palm House building restoration started. The building is closed to the public during construction. The Conservatory is open to the public (the indoor public washrooms are closed) but is not available for wedding or photography permits, or bookings of any kind until construction is completed in spring 2024.

The construction contractors have installed fencing and hoarding (a fence or barrier between the construction site and the public) at the entrance of the Palm House building and at a section of the paved path connected to the entrance to ensure public safety.

August 2022

Construction Team Hired

On August 31, 2022, the construction contract for the project was awarded.