Frank Gehry & David Mirvish Plans for Entertainment District in Toronto

Here’s an attempt at artsy revitalization for Toronto’s artsy-entertainment district – another building! Make that three buildings, the new plans for the future artistic and cultural revitalization of downtown Toronto have just been unveiled. The Entertainment District redesign consists of three sculptural, iconic towers designed by international architect Frank Gehry and art mogul David Mirvish, as the first new project Gehry has ever designed in his hometown.

Updating the arts and entertainment block in the downtown area, the three buildings will take the place of the Princess of Wales Theater and adjacent housing blocks, and will consist of two six-storey stepped podiums topped by three residential towers ranging in height from 80 to 85 levels, with the new 60,000 square-foot Mirvish art collection space in the bottom atrium, the preservation of the Royal Alexandra Theater, and the new OCAD university facility covered in green terraces that face King Street.

Architect Frank Gehry describes his experience with the project:

‘it is very special for me to be able to work in Toronto where I was born and to engage the neighbourhoods where I grew up. it’s especially interesting that this project involves the arts. that is always meaningful to me. with this project, I wanted to create buildings that were good neighbours to the surrounding buildings and that respected the rich and diverse history of the area. I also wanted to make nice places for the people who live in and visit the buildings. David has an exciting vision, and I am thrilled to be a part of it.’

And speaking of Mirvish, read our feature that involves another famous Mirvish.