TORONTO| Bell Lightbox-Festival Tower | 514 FT / 158 M | 42 FLOORS

[caltrane74]

http://arts.nationalpost.com/2010/08...ghtbox-update/


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TIFF Bell Lightbox update!


Melissa Leong August 11, 2010 – 5:00 am
NATIONAL POST




Members of the media were invited to the Toronto International Film Festival’s newest showpiece, the TIFF Bell Lightbox, on Monday. Melissa Leong reports on what will become a year-round movie venue in the city.

The TIFF Bell Lightbox will not be like other major movie theatres. As Noah Cowan, artistic director of the Lightbox, said on a tour of the new building yesterday: “We’re not showing Clash of the Titans here.”

Moreover, movies at the Lightbox will open on Thursdays instead of the customary Fridays.

“Because of the kinds of films that we’re actually profiling here, we think that it gives some of the films a better shot,” Cowan said.

“We’re very serious about not competing with Cineplex. …The only thing they have said to us is the more you can differentiate yourself from us, the better. Then it becomes increasingly clear that there are two different kinds of experiences.”

Cowan said he hopes the Lightbox will fill a niche “between the conventional multiplex and artist-run centres.” He wants to profile non-English language feature films, documentaries and revivals and restorations courtesy of Cinematheque.

“We hope to provide a somewhat more stable home for aspects of the Canadian film industry.”

Members of the media donned hard hats and rubber boots yesterday to walk through the Toronto Film Festival’s new downtown home which is still under construction in the city’s Theatre District. The $196-million project will open on Sept. 12, in the midst of this year’s festivities.

The five-storey building, designed by Toronto-based architectural firm KPMB, features five theatres, a public atrium, a bistro, restaurant, lounge, galleries, learning studios and staff offices. It will host festivals and special events and be open to the public.

“Everything that we do in the building should feel accessible to people, visually and electronically.”

A collection of drawings, sculptures and videos by filmmaker Tim Burton will be one of the first exhibits featured at the Lightbox.

Cowan said that Burton was excited about a gallery space with street facing windows.

“He’s coming up with a new commission to design a Christmas window for us,” he said. “It’s going to be quite a deranged Christmas window.”


http://arts.nationalpost.com/2010/08...#ixzz0wJbQHbiG


http://arts.nationalpost.com/2010/08...ghtbox-update/

[caltrane74]

Originally Posted by interchange42

Urban Toronto’s comprehensive tour of Festival Tower, courtesy of Daniels Corp, now takes you into its very extensive amenities area, located on two whole levels of the podium overlooking Bell Lightbox and the surrounding city.

Text by Doug Convoy, Photos by Interchange42

Looking out over the future Meditation Garden, the focal point of which will be a sculpture by New Brunswick artist Peter Powning.




A view inside Festival Tower’s private screening room for residents, which seats sixty and will contain a 35mm projector, a digital projector, and a console for DVDs. TIFF will have use of this space too.




A view into one of the future lounges. Condo residents will have access to an internet lounge, yoga room, party room, and corporate event space with exclusive catering services provided by Oliver & Bonacini.




A sweeping vista of the stunning pool and hot tub area, which will be divided by a dramatic curtain of water, marked by the long and narrow recess in the ceiling, visible at the top of the image. Overlooking all of this is the raised fitness room, as seen at the far end of the shot.




Moving outside and onto the upper terrace and sundeck, which will contain a bar and barbeque area.







Looking up toward Festival Tower from the upper terrace.




Moving down onto the lower terrace.




Two views up Festival Tower from the lower terrace.






A panoramic shot of the future corporate event space to be known as ‘Malaparte.’ This facility, which will be outfitted with a full commercial kitchen, is owned and operated by Daniels Corp and the Reitman family in partnership with Oliver & Bonacini. It will be made available to Festival Tower residents, TIFF, and outside clients.




That concludes our tour of Festival Tower’s amenities. Tomorrow we’ll be showcasing the building’s breathtaking views of the city. So, stay tuned!

update number 2 -

from interchange42 at www.urbantoronto.ca

[caltrane74]

http://urbantoronto.ca/showthread.ph...-KPMB)/page134

Originally Posted by interchange42

For our fifth and final instalment on Daniels' flagship Festival Tower, Urban Toronto shares with you the stunning views from the building over the whole city and of the building from street-level in all directions.

Text by Doug Convoy, Photos by Interchange42


Looking north, the skyline seems to stretch uninterrupted all the way to Yonge and Eglinton.






A view toward the southeast with Ïce and Infinity III & IV under construction just to the right of Ritz.








Looking south toward the lake and over 300 Front’s construction site.




A view toward Cityplace with Parade II under construction. Fly Condos should be starting construction soon next to The Element.




Looking west and over M5V and Charlie under construction.




A closer view of M5V.




Gläs.




Everyone’s favourite, The Hyatt.




And now for our swing around Festival Tower and tiff. | Bell Lightbox at street-level.

King and Widmer.






A view toward the rear of the building over Cinema Condos now under construction.




Looking toward the northeast corner of the building with the future site of Pinnacle on Adelaide just to the right.




John Street. The staining on the precast that caused so much heated discussion on UT many months ago is completely gone.




The money shot from King and John.




That’s the end of our tour of Festival Tower. Many thanks to Tom Dutton and the rest of the Daniels Corp team for giving Urban Toronto exclusive access to this groundbreaking project.

Stay tuned for more Urban Toronto Hard-Hat tours in the weeks ahead.

Last from interchange42 at www.urbantoronto.ca

[caltrane74]

by me

• Video Link

tiff. | Bell Lightbox

• Video Link


by me

[caltrane74]

Originally Posted by current

Photos of Bell Lightbox and Canteen from August 20

from current at UT

[joeyedm]

i really like the balconies on that building

[Davis137]

It's got a great Ultra-Modern look to it that contrasts very will against the backdrop of the older buildings in the area...

[caltrane74]

Originally Posted by interchange42

Urban Toronto’s extensive coverage of TIFF Bell Lightbox winds down at the BlackBerry Lounge and LUMA restaurant by Oliver & Bonacini on the second floor and O & B Canteen at street-level. All designed by KPMB Architects, these high-profile and highly-permeable gathering places add extra buzz and excitement to TIFF’s exceptional, new cinematic facility.

Text by Doug Convoy Photos by Interchange42

The BlackBerry Lounge offers drinks, light dining, and plenty of opportunities to mingle and hobnob.




One of many BlackBerry charging stations inside the BlackBerry Lounge.




The wrap-around bar at the BlackBerry Lounge.






Both the BlackBerry Lounge and adjoining LUMA restaurant afford excellent, floor-to-ceiling views over King St.




LUMA delivers upscale dining courtesy of Executive Chef Jason Bangerter.




The restaurant’s fine-dining experience is complimented in the rich woods, leather, and stone of its interior design.




O & B partners Peter Oliver and Michael Bonacini.




O & B Canteen at King St W and John St offers casual, all-day dining and take-away.




O & B Canteen’s see-and-be-seen locale has proven quite popular with Toronto restaurant-goers.



And that marks the end of our special feature on the opening of TIFF Bell Lightbox, a truly groundbreaking cultural institution that brings new dimension to this city’s ever-burgeoning arts and culture scene. Please be sure to watch for more Urban Toronto reports on city-changing projects in the weeks ahead.

from interchange42 at UT

The Last in the Bell Lightbox series.

[caltrane74]

The building just got a write up in the Chicago Tribune..

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entert...2478115.column

And another positive write up - also by the Chicago Tribune


http://www.chicagotribune.com/entert...,2839832.story

[caltrane74]

film fest is over..

by me

[shakman]

WOW... I missed this one while under construction. Excellent design work relative to the integration of the glazing and metal cladding on the facade. It certainly does have a festival look to it.

[steveve]

wait... is this tower officially complete?

[WhipperSnapper]

The tower doesn't even have an occupancy permit yet and it will be well into 2011 before purchasers close on their units.

[caltrane74]

steveve you don't see the construction hoist on the side of the tower?

hmmmmm..

[Innsertnamehere]

Originally Posted by caltrane74

steveve you don't see the construction hoist on the side of the tower?

hmmmmm..

as you've said to me before, i think steveve means that the theatres are open, and got confused, thinking that meant that the whole building was finished...

[caltrane74]

mark rodas

Nice shot of the Lightbox all lit up.

[caltrane74]

From thestar.com

[caltrane74]

by me

[caltrane74]

Originally Posted by CML

Looking sharp on a sunny day

from CML at www.urbantoronto.ca

[caltrane74]

by me