In an announcement made today by Artscape's Campaign Co-Chairs Robert J. Foster & Judy Matthews along with the organization's President & CEO Tim Jones, the Regent Park Arts & Cultural Centre at 585 Dundas Street East has been renamed the Daniels Spectrum.

Artscape revealed its list of major donors to the arts & cultural facility in a press release eariler today. A $4 million lead gift from the Daniels Corporation and the John and Myrna Daniels Charitable Foundation has been acknowledged in the Centre's new name. $9.7 million in new donations were announced from a total spend of $38 million for the institution, with the largest share from the Governments of Canada and of Ontario at $12 million each. The City of Toronto and Toronto Community Housing provided the land. The grand public opening is scheduled for Saturday, September 22nd from noon to 4 pm. 

Daniels Spectrum, image by Daniels Corporation

The Honourable Glen Murray, MPP for Toronto Centre and Minister of Training, Colleges & Universities and Councillor Gary Crawford (Ward 38 Scarborough Southwest) led the ribbon-cutting ceremony, which was attended by members of the Regent Park community.

UrbanToronto has stopped by the site several times, including for an inside look during Doors Open Toronto. Below is how the structure looked during construction in May. Paintbox condos can be seen in the background, and is attached to the Daniels Spectrum. Both buildings are designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects.

Daniels Spectrum, image by Michael Batt

Daniels Spectrum, image by Michael Batt

The Centre boasts a central 6000 square foot Ada Slaight Hall, a flexible performance and event space with seating for 400. An exterior courtyard will add 4000 square feet of outdoor community space. The second floor of the centre will be home to a variety of arts-based learning programs, with the Centre for Social Innovation occupying the third floor. In total, the building will offer 60,000 square feet of space dedicated to organizations that seek to actively engage the surrounding community.

The finishing touches, other than at ground level, are almost done in this image from early September:

Daniels Spectrum, image courtesy of member Torontovibe

Exterior of Daniels Spectrum, image courtesy of Diamond Schmitt Architects

The Daniels Spectrum forms an important community space and will play a role in building relationships in the neighbourhood - a central theme of the Regent Park Revitalization project.  The Daniels Spectrum and other nearby recreational facilities such as the Regent Park Central Park and Aquatic Centre form institutional anchors not only for the residential communities that are going up around them, but also act as cultural hubs for the wider downtown area. 

UrbanToronto will have a building tour coming tomorrow to show you what's inside.

Related Companies:  Diamond Schmitt Architects, entro, NAK Design Strategies