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charlene · 09-16-2013, 06:46 PM

WHEN YOU HAVE TIME: CHECK OUT THE LINK FOR SOME FABULOUS PHOTOS this is basically what will impact the concert goer: http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2...file-57665.pdf

The Corporation of Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall ("the Corporation") has submitted a site plan application to the City to permit the construction of a six storey addition to the rear of the existing Massey Hall with a two level basement and a two level mechanical penthouse (“Redevelopment project”).

The addition will provide much needed space for performers, multiple elevators, new washroom and lounge / lobby areas, administrative office space as well as new back-of-house space. The introduction of elevated enclosed corridors or “passerelles” approximately 6.8 metres above grade along the full length of the exterior east and west elevations of the historic structure and connecting to a new lobby space within the rear addition, will enable the auditorium to be fully accessible at all levels for the first time in its history. At-grade loading facilities will be provided in conjunction with the rear addition that will eliminate the current requirement for staging equipment to be moved into and out of the concert hall through the front doors on Shuter Street. Mechanical and electrical systems will be modernized, theatrical lighting, rigging and sound systems will be updated and seating in the auditorium will be upgradedPasserelles

The passerelles provide the physical space that is lacking in the current Massey Hall to allow exiting from each of the three levels of the auditorium and connecting to elevators, making the Hall fully accessible. On the east side of Massey Hall the passerelle is
Alterations to a Designated Heritage Property – 55 Shuter Street (Massey Music Hall) 10
proposed to be glass allowing one to see the east wall of the heritage structure and the stained glass windows that will be restored along its length. The positioning of the passerelles on the east and west elevations of the Hall is such that it minimizes their visual impact being suspended just above a stone stringcourse at the top of the first floor and extending to just below the top cornice line.

The new passerelles will allow the fire escapes added to the north face of Massey Hall in 1911 to be removed and this elevation to be restored. They also help to unify the rear addition with the historic structure along its east elevation, as both the rear addition and the passerelles will have a transparent quality tying the old and the new together. Filling in the current vacant block between The Elgin Winter Garden Theatre and Massey Hall provides connection between these two cultural venues and physically consolidates the block.

Exterior Restoration / Rehabilitation

The removal of the fire escapes is a significant restoration initiative. Equally significant is the proposed restoration of the stained glass windows on three (north, east and west) elevations of the building. The majority of these windows have been boarded up for years to control light and noise penetration into the concert hall, concealing what is a key character defining feature of this heritage property. These include eight surviving windows (of 12) installed in the east and west walls at the main level of the auditorium comprised of life-size portraits of famous composers.

As it will still be necessary to control light and noise entering the auditorium once the windows are uncovered, the method of restoration / rehabilitation that will be implemented has yet to be determined. Staff will work with the Corporation as the precise conservation detail for the stained glass windows is developed.

The removal of the fire escapes will require some repair to masonry on the north elevation. It will also provide an opportunity to restore the original stone "Massey Hall" sign band and to reinstate a canopy across the front of the building. The details of this canopy (precise location on the north elevation, materials, attachment) will be developed in consultation with Heritage Preservation Services and will form part of the conservation plan.

The canopy is included on the site plan submission only to delineate the extent of its projection (encroachment) into the public right-of-way.
Finally, in order to create more functional box offices, the existing box-office windows will be revised within the original door openings in the east and west corners of the north elevation. The HIA indicates the details of the materials and methods of altering these original openings will be further explored in the conservation plan.

Interior Restoration / Rehabilitation

The excellence of the Massey Hall auditorium, both acoustically and in the intimacy it provides between artist and audience, can be attributed to the functional design of the music hall in response to the limited size of the site. The interior of Massey Hall is essentially entirely devoted to the auditorium, the stage and seating, with two horseshoe balconies wrapping around the stage. A very modest entrance lobby off Shuter Street and the stairwells in the four corners make up the balance of the interior.

The proposed alterations to the interior of Massey Hall will not impact this functional design. The balcony seating may be extended to include private boxes where the existing lounge is located on the second floor. At the gallery level, a modest adjustment in the rake of the floor and replacement of the only remaining original wood seats (c.1893) is proposed to improve the site lines and the congested condition that currently exists at this level. A portion of the wood seating presently in the gallery will be preserved within the auditorium as an historical reference. All of the seating within the auditorium will be upgraded (replaced). The applicant has indicated the possibility of restoring one of the original box seats beside the stage in honour of the Massey family.

The wood screen providing a cross-over space at the back of the stage was added sometime between 1911 and 1926 and is included in the Reasons for Designation. The proposed conservation strategy for this element of the interior is not yet known. Removal of this character defining feature ( if proposed) would require approval by City Council as it is not contemplated in this report.

The Moorish decoration which is original to the building including the vaulted and decorated plaster ceiling with scalloped arches and cusps, the carved capitals and cast-iron columns, the decorative brackets, and at the rear of the auditorium, the chimney surrounds placed in the northeast and northwest corners on the ground floor will all be restored.

The existing lobby off Shuter Street will be preserved with some rehabilitation of the Art Deco scheme implemented in 1933, acknowledging the contribution this later alteration has made to the heritage value of Massey Hall. Public access to the concert hall will continue to be provided from this entrance along with the new entrance off of Victoria Street.

09-16-2013, 06:46 PM	#5
charlene Moderator Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 16,004	Re: Massey hall reno/revitalization WHEN YOU HAVE TIME: CHECK OUT THE LINK FOR SOME FABULOUS PHOTOS this is basically what will impact the concert goer: http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2...file-57665.pdf The Corporation of Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall ("the Corporation") has submitted a site plan application to the City to permit the construction of a six storey addition to the rear of the existing Massey Hall with a two level basement and a two level mechanical penthouse (“Redevelopment project”). The addition will provide much needed space for performers, multiple elevators, new washroom and lounge / lobby areas, administrative office space as well as new back-of-house space. The introduction of elevated enclosed corridors or “passerelles” approximately 6.8 metres above grade along the full length of the exterior east and west elevations of the historic structure and connecting to a new lobby space within the rear addition, will enable the auditorium to be fully accessible at all levels for the first time in its history. At-grade loading facilities will be provided in conjunction with the rear addition that will eliminate the current requirement for staging equipment to be moved into and out of the concert hall through the front doors on Shuter Street. Mechanical and electrical systems will be modernized, theatrical lighting, rigging and sound systems will be updated and seating in the auditorium will be upgradedPasserelles The passerelles provide the physical space that is lacking in the current Massey Hall to allow exiting from each of the three levels of the auditorium and connecting to elevators, making the Hall fully accessible. On the east side of Massey Hall the passerelle is Alterations to a Designated Heritage Property – 55 Shuter Street (Massey Music Hall) 10 proposed to be glass allowing one to see the east wall of the heritage structure and the stained glass windows that will be restored along its length. The positioning of the passerelles on the east and west elevations of the Hall is such that it minimizes their visual impact being suspended just above a stone stringcourse at the top of the first floor and extending to just below the top cornice line. The new passerelles will allow the fire escapes added to the north face of Massey Hall in 1911 to be removed and this elevation to be restored. They also help to unify the rear addition with the historic structure along its east elevation, as both the rear addition and the passerelles will have a transparent quality tying the old and the new together. Filling in the current vacant block between The Elgin Winter Garden Theatre and Massey Hall provides connection between these two cultural venues and physically consolidates the block. Exterior Restoration / Rehabilitation The removal of the fire escapes is a significant restoration initiative. Equally significant is the proposed restoration of the stained glass windows on three (north, east and west) elevations of the building. The majority of these windows have been boarded up for years to control light and noise penetration into the concert hall, concealing what is a key character defining feature of this heritage property. These include eight surviving windows (of 12) installed in the east and west walls at the main level of the auditorium comprised of life-size portraits of famous composers. As it will still be necessary to control light and noise entering the auditorium once the windows are uncovered, the method of restoration / rehabilitation that will be implemented has yet to be determined. Staff will work with the Corporation as the precise conservation detail for the stained glass windows is developed. The removal of the fire escapes will require some repair to masonry on the north elevation. It will also provide an opportunity to restore the original stone "Massey Hall" sign band and to reinstate a canopy across the front of the building. The details of this canopy (precise location on the north elevation, materials, attachment) will be developed in consultation with Heritage Preservation Services and will form part of the conservation plan. The canopy is included on the site plan submission only to delineate the extent of its projection (encroachment) into the public right-of-way. Finally, in order to create more functional box offices, the existing box-office windows will be revised within the original door openings in the east and west corners of the north elevation. The HIA indicates the details of the materials and methods of altering these original openings will be further explored in the conservation plan. Interior Restoration / Rehabilitation The excellence of the Massey Hall auditorium, both acoustically and in the intimacy it provides between artist and audience, can be attributed to the functional design of the music hall in response to the limited size of the site. The interior of Massey Hall is essentially entirely devoted to the auditorium, the stage and seating, with two horseshoe balconies wrapping around the stage. A very modest entrance lobby off Shuter Street and the stairwells in the four corners make up the balance of the interior. The proposed alterations to the interior of Massey Hall will not impact this functional design. The balcony seating may be extended to include private boxes where the existing lounge is located on the second floor. At the gallery level, a modest adjustment in the rake of the floor and replacement of the only remaining original wood seats (c.1893) is proposed to improve the site lines and the congested condition that currently exists at this level. A portion of the wood seating presently in the gallery will be preserved within the auditorium as an historical reference. All of the seating within the auditorium will be upgraded (replaced). The applicant has indicated the possibility of restoring one of the original box seats beside the stage in honour of the Massey family. The wood screen providing a cross-over space at the back of the stage was added sometime between 1911 and 1926 and is included in the Reasons for Designation. The proposed conservation strategy for this element of the interior is not yet known. Removal of this character defining feature ( if proposed) would require approval by City Council as it is not contemplated in this report. The Moorish decoration which is original to the building including the vaulted and decorated plaster ceiling with scalloped arches and cusps, the carved capitals and cast-iron columns, the decorative brackets, and at the rear of the auditorium, the chimney surrounds placed in the northeast and northwest corners on the ground floor will all be restored. The existing lobby off Shuter Street will be preserved with some rehabilitation of the Art Deco scheme implemented in 1933, acknowledging the contribution this later alteration has made to the heritage value of Massey Hall. Public access to the concert hall will continue to be provided from this entrance along with the new entrance off of Victoria Street.