The Royal Conservatory of Music has officially opened Koerner Hall—the centerpiece in the Telus Centre for Performance and Learning, which represents the final phase in the transformation of the conservatory’s headquarters on Bloor Street. Designed by architects Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg, the Telus Centre includes state-of-the-art music studios, fully wired classrooms, a library, a 1,140-seat concert hall, a rehearsal hall, and a new-media and broadcast centre.
Koerner Hall, which opened with a concert Friday, features a layered wood veil that forms a floating ceiling canopy above the orchestra. The hall is suitable for music and spoken-word events such as lectures and conferences. The space holds 1,140 in a theatre-style set up, 117 for a reception on the stage, and 100 for dinner.
Koerner Hall also has three lobbies with views of the University of Toronto, the Royal Ontario Museum, and the city skyline. The main lobby holds 200 for dinner and 250 for receptions. The first balcony lobby holds 80 for dinner and 133 for receptions; the second balcony lobby holds 50 for dinner and 58 for receptions. Each level includes a full-service bar and restrooms. The three lobbies, connected by a floating staircase, can be rented together or separately.
The ground-level atrium is also available for bookings. The space is home to the Koerner family's collection of antique instruments, which are displayed in specially designed, climate controlled cases. The space holds 120 for dinner and 183 for receptions.
The Conservatory Theatre is a multipurpose performance and rehearsal venue with large windows. The space—which holds 200 in a theatre-style setup, 128 for dinner, and 167 for receptions—is suitable for recitals, meetings, and receptions.
The existing Mazzoleni Hall & Lounge, a 237-seat venue in the Royal Conservatory’s heritage building, was also renovated as part of the project. The space is suitable for recitals, lectures, and meetings. A small lounge, which holds 112 in a theatre-style setup, 80 for dinner, and 93 for receptions, is attached. Mazzoleni Hall holds 64 for dinner and 75 for receptions.
The Telus Centre also offers a number of meeting and workshop rooms that can hold groups of 12 to 69.
