Massey Hall: Exhibits
Overview
Massey Hall, Toronto's most honored concert hall, underwent a massive renovation and revitalization, with exhibits and interpretation added throughout the venue.
Details
- Client
- Massey Hall
- Project
- Massey Hall Revitalization Project: Exhibitions
- Size
- 7,500 sq. ft.
- Project Delivery
- Design-Build
- Scope
- Exhibit Design - Culture
- Location
- Toronto, ON, CA
- Year Completed
- 2022
The
Goal
Massey Hall’s extensive renovation provided the opportunity to highlight the Hall’s history, architecture, and many iconic artists that have performed there. The exhibits are featured off the main concert hall and in event spaces, bars, hallway elevator lobbies, and bathrooms.
The
Design
The design for the exhibits is deeply inspired by the power and magic of live performance. Wallpaper with vintage performance posters accompanies the visitor as they wait for the elevator, iconic outfits and instruments are featured in the bar to amaze and astound. Black and white photos of artists are projected and backlit in lounges. Small jewel box cases containing architectural artifacts that make up some of the histories of the Hall are displayed across several floors. Iconic pieces of Canadian music history, such as handwritten sheet music by Gordon Lightfoot, are illuminated with dramatic lights while still adhering to recommended conservation guidelines. Large, life-sized cases featuring stage costumes and instruments include historical photos of the Hall as background, dramatically setting them in their performance context. The fabrication and installation of the design was executed with great care as we worked together with Holman as a design-build team.
Behind
the Scenes
The magnitude and complexity of the Massey Hall Revitalization Project required very close collaboration between R&P, our fabrication partners at Holman, KPMB architects, Ellis Don construction, and the Massey Hall Corporation. This became even more important as COVID-19 hit midway through the project, and in-person collaboration became impossible. The rest of the design was completed with extremely limited access to the site.
