Canadian Tank Museum
The transition of the Canadian Tank Museum from its origins as the Ontario Regiment Museum to a national institution marks a pivotal evolution—from a regionally rooted collection to a steward of Canada’s collective military heritage.
This shift brings clear benefits: broader public recognition, expanded partnerships, and an obligation to tell a comprehensive story that reflects Canada’s diverse regions, regiments, and lived experiences of service. Embracing a national identity positions the museum not only as a repository of artifacts, but as a civic institution charged with education, remembrance, and dialogue at a country-wide scale.
Location
Oshawa, Ontario
Form Inspiration
Leopard 1 side skirt profile
Side skirt extrapolated as an architectural form
The Leopard 1 holds a singular place in Canadian military history as the main battle tank that defined an era of Cold War readiness, NATO cooperation, and Canada’s modern army. Introduced in the late 1970s, it represented a decisive shift toward mobility, precision, and interoperability, serving Canada for decades both at home and abroad and becoming the most recognizable armored vehicle in the national lineup. More than a machine, the Leopard 1 embodies Canadian military values: adaptability over brute force, collective defense over isolation, and technical ingenuity matched with restraint. As one of the most iconic battle tanks in Canadian service, its relevance extends beyond combat to training, diplomacy, and the lived experiences of generations of soldiers.
CONSTRUCT.
Construct a simple building utilizing utilitarian construction techniques that reference 20th century wartime production facilities. This creates a vast space in an economically conscious manner.
CONNECT.
Establish a physical connection to key circulation paths through a multipurpose space that includes exhibition displays, outdoor arena seating, and an observation platform.
FORTIFY.
An angular facade references the Leopard 1 ‘s design, and presents itself as a physical fortification of armour that establishes a link to the materiality, purpose, shape, and form of tanks.
Concept Diagrams
