Young Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto /
Soulpepper Theatre Company, George Brown College,
Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects (KPMB)

situation:

The Young Centre is a $14 million conversion of two tank houses in Toronto’s historic Gooderham Worts Distillery District redevelopment.

assessment:

The collaboration of Soulpepper Theatre Company and George Brown College represents a unique combination of professional theatre, academic instruction and municipal redevelopment.

solution:

The centre includes three multi-purpose performance halls, five studios, and two classrooms; all shoehorned into two 19th-century red brick tank houses. The large multi-purpose hall (the Marilyn and Charles Baillie Theatre) distinguishes itself from the other spaces with a roof raised 3.7 m above the original building. It seats 315, and is adaptable to thrust, proscenium, and arena configurations.

results:

The building opened in January 2006 and received a United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) Award of Honor in March 2007.

testimonial:

“It’s got a very lively acoustic. Pianists and singers love this space.”

Albert Schultz, General Director of Soulpepper Theatre