Roy Thomson Hall

Roy Thomson Hall opened on September 13, 1982, after construction that began in 1978 on the site of a former rail yard. The hall was named for media mogul Roy Thomson, whose family contributed $4.5 million toward the $57 million facility; fundraising had begun in 1977, with a committee chaired by Pierre Trudeau, William Davis, Paul Godfrey and David Crombie.

A circular glass landmark

Designed by architect Arthur Erickson with Mathers and Haldenby, the hall's circular, sloping glass exterior became one of Toronto's recognizable architectural landmarks. Violinist Itzhak Perlman acted as a special advisor to the architects on accessibility needs for disabled performers and guests. The 2,600-seat hall contains a pipe organ that cost over $650,000 and more than 20,000 hours of labour to build, and remains the home of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

Sources

• The Canadian Encyclopedia — Toronto Feature: Roy Thomson Hall
• BlogTO — How Toronto Turned a Rail Yard Into Roy Thomson Hall