A $46-million renovation has transformed the historic Automotive Building, which opened to the public on the grounds of Exhibition Place in 1929, into the Allstream Centre—dubbed the greenest and most energy efficient conference facility in Canada. Just inside the Princes' Gates, the 160,000-square-foot venue officially opened Thursday.
The renovation, completed over the past 19 months under the direction of the architectural firm NORR Limited, included the restoration of the exterior of the building, constructed in the Art Deco style. Many historical elements have been retained throughout, including the tulip-shaped lighting, iron railings, and terrazzo floors in the north and south lobbies.
The venue has a 43,900-square-foot column-free ballroom that seats 3,000. The space is decorated in earth tones and the ceiling features a Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired design. The second floor has 20 meeting rooms that can hold groups of 50 to 750, and five lounges—some with views of Lake Ontario. An underground walkway connects the venue to the Direct Energy Centre across the street.
To date, the Allstream Centre is the only conference facility in Canada built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design silver rating standards. Environmental features include a white reflective roof and carbon monoxide sensors in every room. Low VOC (volatile organic compound) paints, carpets, and adhesives were used throughout. The centre also has a rainwater harvesting system, which eliminates the use of city-treated water to flush toilets and is the first building at Exhibition Place to be fully powered by renewable energy.
Cerise Fine Catering, a partnership between Centerplate and the Windsor Arms Hotel, is the exclusive in-house caterer.
