Meridian Hall (Toronto)
Meridian Hall is a performing arts venue in Toronto, Ontario, and it is the country's largest soft-seat theatre. The facility was constructed for the City of Toronto municipal government and is currently managed by TO Live, an arms-length agency and registered charity created by the city. Located at 1 Front Street East, the venue opened as the O'Keefe Centre on October 1, 1960. From 1996 to 2007, the building was known as the Hummingbird Centre for the Performing Arts. From 2007 to 2019, it was known as the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts. On September 15, 2019, it was re-branded as Meridian Hall.
Exterior view of Meridian Hall from Front and Yonge Street | |
| Former names | O'Keefe Centre (1960–1996) Hummingbird Centre for the Performing Arts (1996–2007) Sony Centre for the Performing Arts (2007–2019) |
|---|---|
| Address | 1 Front Street East Toronto, Ontario M5E 1B2 |
| Coordinates | 43.6466°N 79.3761°W |
| Public transit | King |
| Owner | City of Toronto government |
| Type | Performing arts venue |
| Capacity | 3,191 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | October 1, 1960 |
| Reopened | October 1, 2010 |
| Rebuilt | 2008–2010 |
| Years active | 1960–2008; 2010–present |
| Architect | Peter Dickinson |
| Website | |
| www | |
In 2008, the City of Toronto designated the theatre a heritage building. That year, it also underwent renovations to restore features such as the marquee canopy and York Wilson's lobby mural, The Seven Lively Arts. Restoration of the wood, brass and marble was undertaken, along with audience seating, flooring upgrades, new washrooms and reconfigured lobby spaces. Following two years of renovations and restoration work, the building reopened on October 1, 2010, fifty years to the date of the first opening night performance.