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For over 50 years, the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts (STLC) has been a premier location for performing arts shows in downtown Toronto. Home to the Bluma Appel and Jane Mallett Theatres at 27 Front Street East, the space has undergone some renovations since its inception. Now, a new design competition would bring a reimagining of the site.
UrbanToronto previously looked at how TOLive and CreateTO, the agencies that respectively manage the City’s major civic theatres and real estate portfolio, have partnered to set up that international design competition. The details of the five finalists can be found on the competition’s website until March 3. This week, we are taking deeper daily dives into each of the proposals, proceeding alphabetically through the list by lead local architect, and therefore starting with the submission from Brook McIlroy, Trahan Architects, and Hood Design Studio.
With each proposal taking on its own theme, this entry showcases its ideas through weaving. The core idea is all about “connecting people and places in a shared meaning and vision of a world that celebrates all.” This seven-storey, 24.50m tall version of the SLTC would showcase this through a series of open, interconnected spaces. The design organizes these spaces around the central atrium and outdoor terraces, with many of the outdoor and indoor spaces accessible to the public.
This proposal further strives to weave in greater freedom for artists for performers. The Main Stage Theatre and Acoustic Hall would include automated assisted performance equipment, enabling physical and acoustical surface modulations to alter the building and lobby. The result is the option for a variety of configurations that can be quickly set up with a small crew. Directors and designers would have greater freedom to pursue artistic ideas and experiment through the use of this technology.
Connecting people also means inclusivity and accessibility. This proposal looks to reduce any barriers to support visitors with different visual, audible, and physical disabilities. The publicly open and creative spaces aim to do away with financial barriers and remove any sense of elitism some might associate with the arts.
Weaving itself into the fabric of the City and the surrounding world, the design also features elements considering the environment and the urban surroundings. Not only would the building be surrounded by native plantings, but also contain a number of environmentally-friendly features itself. These include a beehive colony, community garden, bio-filtration pond, and bird habitat patch.
Finally, the proposed materials keep in mind the connection to nature. This STLC design utilizes copper and wood to “honour the natural aging process” of these materials. Rain would oxidize the copper over time, allowing nature to decorate the walls. The wood of the interior and exterior is intended to offer a warm and welcoming presence. Meanwhile, the extensive use of glass, through the façade along Front Street and upwards along the building, brings together the weaving theme by creating a sense of openness and transparency for pedestrians outside.
The STLC Next website provides more images and PDFs expanding on each of the submissions. Stay tuned tomorrow for the proposal from Diamond Schmitt Architects, Smoke Architecture, and MVVA and their water theme.
A public event to hear more about the entries is scheduled for Tuesday, March 7 at the STLC, with doors opening at 5 PM and presentations beginning at 6 PM. Virtual attendance of the event can be secured through registering at at STLC Next website, linked above, where your thoughts about the design proposals can also be recorded.
Following the March 7 event and public feedback, the entries will be judged by a jury made up of leaders in the fields of architecture, culture, Indigenous design, landscape architecture, and planning. The jury members are;
maxine bailey, Executive Director of the Canadian Film Centre (CFC) and co-founder of the Black Artists Network in Dialogue (BAND)
Meg Graham, Architect and Founder, Superkül (Chair)
Seema Jethalal, Former Regional Director General, Canadian Heritage, and inaugural Managing Director of Daniels Spectrum
Lori Marchand, Managing Director, Indigenous Theatre at the National Arts Centre Ottawa
Sadie Marshall, Artist
Thomas Payne, Architect and Founder, Thomas Payne Architect
Marc Ryan, Landscape Architect and Founder, PublicWork
The winning design is set to be announced the week of March 13, 2023. A more detailed version of the winner will be brought before the Executive and City Council the following month.
UrbanToronto will continue to follow progress on this development, but in the meantime, you can learn more about it from our Database file, linked below. 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. You can also leave "a vote" in our thread via our informal poll.
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