Construction Begins For Festival Centre
2/1/2007 — Festival Centre
Toronto - Construction for TIFFG's Festival Centre begins today, marking the launch of the Group's landmark destination facility dedicated to the moving image. Fencing has now been placed around the perimeter of the King and John Streets' site, with full hoarding to be installed by early March. An official groundbreaking ceremony co-presented by the King and John Festival Corporation is planned for spring to celebrate and acknowledge all those who have participated in the project to-date.
"This truly is a momentous occasion for TIFFG and all our partners involved in this project," said Piers Handling, Director and CEO of the Toronto International Film Festival Group. "We have eagerly awaited this day since launching our campaign in 2003. Seeing all the activity on the site realizes a dream for this organization and Toronto. Once completed, the building will be a state-of-the-art structure filled with filmmakers, cinephiles, children, educators, arts enthusiasts, international tourists, and the best programming in the world."
Designed by world-renowned architectural firm KPMB, Festival Centre is a dynamic, open and inviting facility located on the northwest corner of King and John Streets. The site consists of TIFFG's Festival Centre, a five-storey podium building housing the Group's operations, a gallery, five cinemas, educational suites and a film reference library, and Festival Tower, a 37-story residential condominium. The project is a co-development between TIFFG and the King and John Festival Corporation, comprised of The Daniels Corporation, filmmaker Ivan Reitman and the Reitman Family.
TIFFG thanks its Festival Centre founding sponsor Bell, who through an innovative marketing alliance, will name Festival Centre and retain exclusive telecom sponsorship of the Group. TIFFG also thanks its Federal and Provincial Government partners, who are each contributing $25 million towards the capital costs of Festival Centre.
The Toronto International Film Festival Group is a charitable, not-for-profit, cultural organization whose mission is to transform the way people see the world. Its vision is to lead the world in creative and cultural discovery through the moving image.