Triangular- and Trapezoidal-Shaped IMPs Present a Bold, High-Performance Façade for Toronto Theatre

With the design of the Woodbine Theatre at Canada’s largest casino resort complex in Toronto, CGL Architects was charged with three objectives:

1. To create a distinct architectural identity for the entertainment complex

2. To reinterpret the traditional theatre box-within-a-box typology

3. To create a form that would reference the Canadian landscape

In addition to its many performance and installation benefits, the architects selected Norbec architectural insulated panels in triangular and trapezoidal shapes and pitched them at tilted angles, presenting as an irregular prism for the 5,000-seat multi-purpose theatre.

The IMPs, finished with a champagne metallic bronze, are overlaid with a decorative mesh activating the facade into a dynamic surface as sunlight and shadows shift throughout the day. The mesh introduces textural depth enhancing the visual richness to the façade.

Another layer is the strategically placed light fixtures between the mesh and IMP layers at the seams. This emphasizes the 3D geometry, and in locations where the light grazes the mesh, it transforms the outer skin into a luminous veil.