National Ballet School
Photo source: Tom Arban
Location: 400 Jarvis Street, Toronto, Ontario
Client: National Ballet School
Project Start Date: 2006
Project End Date: 2008
Project Type:
Heritage
Institutional
Parks, Recreation and Open Space
Streetscapes
Construction Cost: $1,500,000.00 Landscape
About the Project
Project Grand Jeté is a two-phased $100 million capital building expansion project of the National Ballet School. The project weaves together new and heritage buildings within a cohesive and responsive landscape that exhibits a harmonious gradient of scale and mix of materials. Phase 1 links the existing 297 seat Betty Oliphant Theatre on Jarvis Street to the newly designed Celia Franca Centre for dance training and the Margaret McCain Academic Building. Phase 2 included the renovation of the existing historic buildings and the rebuild of the Maitland Street facilities into an expanded residence for the School.
The MBTW Group was retained by the National Ballet School in 2006 to provide full scope landscape architectural services for the design of the landscapes surrounding and within the expansion area. Given the historic nature of the site and its buildings, MBTW designed the thematic planting for both historic buildings and the existing Betty Oliphant Theatre to be in keeping with the historic Edwardian period residential garden-style rather than the simple palette of materials for the contemporary Studio Block main entry. Wood detailing and paving throughout the site serves to unify the various buildings. The dark black paving of the podium surrounding the Centre symbolizes the “stage” from which all activity at the ballet school revolves around.
The National Ballet School is an example of a project with rich historical significance. In line with Ridley College’s philosophy, the design response represents a successful weaving together of new and old.
Services:
Arboriculture
Contract Administration
Landscape Architecture
Awards:
2010 Ontario Association of Architects Award of Excellence
2008 RAIC National Urban Design Award
2008 Governor General’s Medal Award
2007 City of Toronto Architecture and Urban Design Award – Award of Excellence
2007 The American Institute of Architects (AIA) – Honor Award for Architecture
2006 Ontario Association of Architects Award of Excellence – Institutional B
2006 Toronto Construction Association – Best of the Best Award (Project Achievement – Large Project) Best of Canada Design Competition
2006 Pugly Award – Best In Show
2006 Heritage Toronto Award
