Ford government to invest $30M in Massey Hall renovation
Posted December 10, 2018 11:22 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The provincial government announced Monday it will invest $30 million in the revitalization of Massey Hall.
The 124-year-old music venue is currently closed while it undergoes a massive restoration to both the interior and the exterior.
“This is a very ambitious project. It will restore the century-old building and add a new seven-storey tower. Massey will become a performance space for the the 21st century,” Minister of Infrastructure Monte McNaughton said Monday.
Phase one of the project was completed in 2017. The second and final phase of the $142-million project will restore the interior and exterior of the building, along with the construction of the new section that will include two new venues — a live-music stage and a performance studio.
The renovation also includes updated seating and repairs to the 100 original stained-glass windows.
“For over a century, memories have been made at Massey Hall,” Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport Michael Tibollo said, adding that it is not only a cultural symbol for Toronto but the rest of the country as well.
Massey Hall, which was built in 1894, has hosted performances from several music legends including Ella Fitzgerald and Gordon Lightfoot, but historical figures like Winston Churchill and the Dalia Lama have also graced the stage.
“The funding will help the memories to continue for generations to come,” McNaughton said.
The concert venue closed its doors on July 2 after Lightfoot performs three nights of shows. The hall is expected reopen in the fall of 2020.
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