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Last week, we took a detailed look at the proposal from Therme Group to construct a 7-storey spa and wellness complex on the West Island of Ontario Place, a central part of the Province’s plan for the revitalization of the struggling waterfront attraction. Today, we are directing our gaze to the East Island, where another player from the private sector has been brought in to contribute to the new model of paid entertainment proposed for Ontario Place.
Included in the late November submission, entertainment brand Live Nation put forward plans to redevelop Budweiser Stage with the goal of transforming the concert venue from a seasonal amenity to a year-round entertainment hub.
As the current owners of the venue, Live Nation was an appropriate candidate to preside over its redevelopment in the interest of generating year-round revenues. Budweiser Stage is able to host over 50 events annually, despite its brief weather-dependent season, enjoying visitation rates of approximately 650,000 per year. In a thriving entertainment market like Toronto, however, Live Nation believes that number could very easily be three times greater. Recognizing the possibility to activate the full potential of their asset, Live Nation has recruited architects EwingCole who have designed other facilities for them, to prepare an updated design that offers a solution to the seasonality of the site while rethinking pedestrian access and common space.
While still in an early stage, the plans for the new design offer a clear picture of the changes to come. Most notably, the stage and seating bowl are proposed to be rebuilt entirely. The key factor behind this significant overhaul is flooding, which has proven to be a legitimate and detrimental issue that is only exacerbated by the climate crisis. In the process of rebuilding the stage and bowl, the entire structure will be lifted to a height that should be safe from future flooding.
Beyond the preventative measures though, the new structure would increase the capacity of the venue from 16,000 to 20,000, and would feature an expanded roof, offering coverage not only for the entirety of the seated area, but also for a large section of the lawn. The new roof would resemble the previous iteration generally from an aerial view, but would be significantly bigger, while featuring a more topographic profile created by a curved design. The design proposes curving beams of engineered glulam wood to support the roof structurally, while an exterior cladding of composite metal panels would provide a flashy and contemporary finish.
Addressing the seasonal challenges of the space, the redevelopment plan proposes a number of work-arounds to improve the prospects of climate control. The east and west elevations of the venue are proposed to be glazed, marking a dramatic change to the historically open air nature of the space. Additionally, the design imagines a set of operable, airplane hangar-style doors that would seal the space from the north. When closed, the doors would cut off a notable amount of lawn seating, but the entirety of the bowl seating would be sealed in a climate controlled space, allowing for events year-round.
The new design also attempts to incorporate the venue into the redeveloped mainland landscape outlined in our earlier story, by relocating the main entrance. A new enclosed pedestrian bridge is proposed to take visitors across the water, situated near the proposed transit hub. Meanwhile, a landscaping overhaul reminiscent of the original concert venue, The Forum, is proposed to improve movement and activate underused spaces throughout the site. A boardwalk would be constructed around the edge of the lawn, with a bar and concession area, while new plaza-style gathering spaces have been conceived on the east and west sides of the stage, with a lakefront pier and the east entry plaza.
More details are expected to emerge about the proposal in the New Year, with this plan offering a preliminary outline of the greater scheme. In order for the proposal to be approved, Live Nation will need to apply for their own project-specific Zoning By-law Amendment, at which time, more advanced plans will be submitted to the City.
UrbanToronto will continue our coverage the Ontario Place redevelopment plan soon, but in the meantime, you can learn more about it from our Therme Spa/West Island at Ontario Place Database file, linked below, where you will find many more renderings. If you'd like, you can join in on the conversation in the associated Project Forum thread, or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.
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