The 4,299.2-square-metre (46,276 sq ft) museum building was designed by Keith Wagland, with further expansions and renovations done by KPMB Architects and Urbacon.

The museum was reopened to the public in 2006, shortly after renovations to its building were completed by construction management firm Urbacon.

In the early 1980s, George and Helen Gardiner hoped to exhibit their works at the Royal Ontario Museum, although complications in arranging that led them to open their own institution instead.

[4][5] Following its establishment as an independent institution, management of the museum was assumed by an independent Board of Trustees, made up of five members from Victoria University's Board of Regents, one member from Toronto City Council, and nine individuals selected from the Government of Ontario through the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

[8] In an effort to attract more visitors, and to further utilize its personal collection, the museum launched an art intervention program in 2012.

[10] The building was originally only 2,969.0 square metres (31,958 sq ft), and two storeys,[5][11] although was designed to accommodate the construction of an additional floor.

[10] From January 2004 to June 2006, the museum closed to the public to undertake a C$25 million renovation and expansion of the building.

[11][12] As a part of the redevelopment, the building's exterior facade was re-clad with Indiana limestone and black granite, adorned with sharp vertically placed windows.

[11] The third floor included facilities for a 50-seat restaurant, a L-shaped outdoor terrace, and a 370-square-metre (4,000 sq ft) exhibition gallery.

[15] In 2017, KPMB Architects was contracted to redesign the museum's gift shop, and for lobby to feature an artist-in-residence ceramic studio at grade.

[17] Items from the permanent collection are either exhibited in the museum, or are stored in a secure, climate controlled facility when not on display.

[8] Eventually, the Gardiners' private collection grew to include Italian maiolica, English delftware, as well as a variety of pottery pieces of pre-colonial Americas, and European porcelains.

[8] The museum's collection of earthenware includes pieces from 47 different cultures in pre-colonial Americas, dating from 3500 BCE to 1550 CE.

[24][25] The museum's holdings of European ceramics from the 18th and early 19th century includes pieces from Austrian, English, French, German, Italian, and Swiss porcelain manufacturers based in Europe; in addition to hausmaler decorated pieces, and commedia dell’arte figurines.

In addition to exhibiting ceramic art, the institution also offers educational programming at the museum, including a two-hour drop-in pottery class throughout the year.