Design: KPMB Architects

Image Credits: Tom Arban

The Royal Conservatory of Music’s Koerner Hall, which opened its doors this past Friday, boasts 1,137 new seats under stunning, undulating ribbons of oak, adding a new Toronto venue "of international importance" to KPMB’s portfolio. Acoustical panels and lights are detailed into the split of these waves, creating a path for both sound and experience. 

 

 

 

 

The design of the 1135-seat concert hall is based on the classic shoe-box shape of some of the world’s finest concert halls, and features two balcony tiers above the main orchestra level, and a third technical balcony. Juxtaposed against the shoebox form of the hall, the wood balcony fronts and curving walls create a warm, sculpted ‘liner’ within the rectangular form. Sightlines and adjustable acoustics allow for a broad range of concert types including live televised broadcast.

The signature element is the ‘veil’ of undulating oak ‘strings’. The ‘veil’ forms the backdrop for the chorus at the first balcony level, then hovers over the stage below the fixed acoustic canopy, extending into and over the hall at the technical balcony level. The strings act as part of the acoustic reflection when under the canopy, and then become acoustically transparent over the rest of the space. Balcony fronts and seats, as well as the hall floors are natural oak, contrasted against undulating black plaster panels that line the hall and resonate the dark stone that wraps the exterior of the Hall. 

 

Design: Stantec Architecture Ltd.

Image Credits: Stantec Architecture Ltd.

Once the home to McGregor Sock Factory, this heritage building was first built in 1905 and was recently repurposed as a home for Stantec’s own multi-disciplinary office space. The warmth of the space is achieved throughout by using reclaimed 500-year-old white pine timbers and revealing much of the building’s original structure.  

An incision was made through the space to create a two storey volume which connects the two levels via a public zone featuring shared reception, meeting rooms, design library and café spaces. An internal stair connects the space and encourages casual interaction and collaboration among multi-disciplinary professionals.

The open studio environment features a low-profile, open and flexible layout that maximizes daylight and views for all occupants. A raised floor system offers underfloor air, power and data distribution, exposing the beautiful wood structure to emphasize the industrial heritage of the building.