March 25, 2024

Saint John, NB – Diamond Schmitt, with Associate Architect EXP, announce the design of the New Brunswick Museum (NBM), a new contemporary home for Canada’s oldest continuing museum. 

Leveraging the historical site’s extraordinary topography in Saint John, the design captures views of both the urban center and Harbour of Saint John, and the stunning natural landscape and river to the west. 

“Taking inspiration from the museum’s original site—one of the great vantage points in Saint John —our design embraces the rich history of New Brunswick’s heritage and natural landscape,” says Don Schmitt, Principal at Diamond Schmitt. “This is a museum project for the past, present, and future of New Brunswick, prioritizing archives and conservation capabilities, major exhibition galleries, community and education spaces, and environmental sustainability through the use of mass timber and our goal of zero-carbon certification.” 

The design integrates the east wing of the museum’s historic Collections and Research Centre on Douglas Avenue in Saint John, built in 1934 beside Riverview Memorial Park, and significantly expands the museum’s footprint with five new wings to the north. 

When completed, the museum’s research work and exhibitions will be brought together within one sustainable, decarbonized facility that fully supports the museum’s mission of preserving, researching, interpreting, and exhibiting the natural and cultural heritage of the Province of New Brunswick. 

Read the full press release here.