Announced today via U of T News, The University of Toronto has hired two architectural firms to design a new Centre for Civilizations and Cultures, to be built on the site of The McLaughlin Planetarium, which closed in 1995.
Located between Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), and U of T faculties of Law and Music The complex will include a new 250-seat performance hall for use by U of T’s Faculty of Music. The mixed-use Centre will also house the university’s departments of History, Near and Middle Eastern civilizations, Institute of Islamic Studies, and the research arm of the Tanenbaum Centre for Jewish Studies. Toronto’s Architects Alliance and New York-based Diller Scofidio + Renfro have been hired to collaborate on the project.
The project has caused some controversy by those who believe The McLaughlin Planetarium should be saved.
Change.org has created a petition seeking 5,000 signatures to persuade the city to step in and preserve the building as an “architectural icon”. At the time this story, the petition has collected nearly 4300 signatures.
“The McLaughlin Planetarium building represents one of the most original and culturally significant works of Mid-century Modernist architecture in Toronto.” Change.org writes.
U of T President Meric Gertler stated, “The Centre for Civilizations and Cultures will bring together U of T’s impressive strength in these key disciplines, enabling us to make an even greater contribution to cross-cultural understanding, here and around the world. The project will also make an important contribution to city-building in Toronto, conceived and designed to create wonderful new spaces in one of Canada’s leading cultural and academic precincts.”
According to a statement via Scott Mabury, U of T’s Vice-President of University Operations, this site will act as a gateway connecting the university and the city.
It is not clear what will happen to U of T Faculty of Music’s Walter Hall, currently located in the Edward Johnson Building. The 490-seat performance space was built in 1964 has been largely overshadowed by RCM’s well maintained Telus Centre Venues: Koerner Hall and Mazzolini and the Conservatory Theatre.
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