Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto Star Stage

In 2007, Theatre Projects, working with Perkins + Will, won a design competition for a revitalization of Nathan Phillips Square, a 10-acre public park in front of Toronto’s City Hall. The project included the addition of a new performance pavilion, which serves as a venue for music festivals, civic events, touring groups, and—thanks to its stepped design—a place for visitors to relax in the shade. The stage area is equipped with sound and performance lighting and a robust overhead rigging infrastructure that accommodates equipment-intensive touring acts. Back-of-house support spaces include a rehearsal room, a performer assembly area, administrative offices, and a loading area. Below the stage, there are dressing rooms, a green room, VIP suite, crew rooms, and administrative offices. The park—Toronto’s primary public space—also includes elevated walkways, an ice skate rental/concession building, and an expansive water fountain that converts into a skating rink in winter months.
Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto Star Stage Case Study