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From the Star:
Walk of Fame to put its feet up
City to share costs of new Metro Square site
Canada's stars will get seen even in winter
Sep. 13, 2006. 01:00 AM
BRUCE DEMARA
ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER
Canada's Walk of Fame has found a permanent all-weather home and chosen a multi-disciplinary Toronto consulting firm to design and build it.
After 14 firms were short-listed, pgm Design Associates was chosen as designer of the new site, to be located in Metro Square on King St. W., between Roy Thomson Hall and Metro Hall. The site has been tentatively dubbed Celebration Square.
Board members decided three years ago that the Walk of Fame, which was begun in 1998, needed a permanent site that was accessible to the public year-round, and the search for a location has been ongoing since then, said president and CEO Peter Soumalias.
"We're very happy. This is Canada's Walk of Fame mandate ... to find ways to celebrate Canadian achievement in a meaningful way (via) a permanent place of tribute," Soumalias said.
Toronto City Council, which leases Metro Square, has given its approval to the project and Mayor David Miller said in a statement that the council has committed to sharing the costs. No budget estimate was given based on the preliminary design.
Miller said he expects the site will become "a significant tourist attraction for the city."
Patrick Morello, spokesman for pgm Design, said many details remain to be decided as the design is taken to a pre-construction phase, but he promised to deliver "a space that is inspiring" and a worthy destination for visitors "from all around Canada and the world."
"The scheme has been designed for four seasons, for day and night, and to operate on many different levels (to make) a very visual, very bold statement about Canadian stars," Morello said.
The plan is to relocate the existing 101 star plaques to the new site, which will be kept free of snow for all-year viewing. The site design features "a forest of light" meant to invoke Canada's Northern Lights. The light columns will begin in the theatre district on the north side of King St. W., where many of the existing stars are now imbedded in the sidewalk. The light columns will show the way across King St. to the installation in Metro Square.
Some of those panels may also be heated to ensure visibility during winter conditions, he said.
The walk will also feature interactive video screens providing information on the stars and comments from previous visitors, he added.
Construction of the site is expected to begin a year from now and possibly extend through the spring of 2008.
AoD
Walk of Fame to put its feet up
City to share costs of new Metro Square site
Canada's stars will get seen even in winter
Sep. 13, 2006. 01:00 AM
BRUCE DEMARA
ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER
Canada's Walk of Fame has found a permanent all-weather home and chosen a multi-disciplinary Toronto consulting firm to design and build it.
After 14 firms were short-listed, pgm Design Associates was chosen as designer of the new site, to be located in Metro Square on King St. W., between Roy Thomson Hall and Metro Hall. The site has been tentatively dubbed Celebration Square.
Board members decided three years ago that the Walk of Fame, which was begun in 1998, needed a permanent site that was accessible to the public year-round, and the search for a location has been ongoing since then, said president and CEO Peter Soumalias.
"We're very happy. This is Canada's Walk of Fame mandate ... to find ways to celebrate Canadian achievement in a meaningful way (via) a permanent place of tribute," Soumalias said.
Toronto City Council, which leases Metro Square, has given its approval to the project and Mayor David Miller said in a statement that the council has committed to sharing the costs. No budget estimate was given based on the preliminary design.
Miller said he expects the site will become "a significant tourist attraction for the city."
Patrick Morello, spokesman for pgm Design, said many details remain to be decided as the design is taken to a pre-construction phase, but he promised to deliver "a space that is inspiring" and a worthy destination for visitors "from all around Canada and the world."
"The scheme has been designed for four seasons, for day and night, and to operate on many different levels (to make) a very visual, very bold statement about Canadian stars," Morello said.
The plan is to relocate the existing 101 star plaques to the new site, which will be kept free of snow for all-year viewing. The site design features "a forest of light" meant to invoke Canada's Northern Lights. The light columns will begin in the theatre district on the north side of King St. W., where many of the existing stars are now imbedded in the sidewalk. The light columns will show the way across King St. to the installation in Metro Square.
Some of those panels may also be heated to ensure visibility during winter conditions, he said.
The walk will also feature interactive video screens providing information on the stars and comments from previous visitors, he added.
Construction of the site is expected to begin a year from now and possibly extend through the spring of 2008.
AoD