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Four Seasons Centre Fact Sheet

  • The Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts is located in the heart of downtown Toronto on a 1.7-acre block at the southeast corner of Queen Street West and University Avenue.
  • The total area of the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts is 35,716 m².
  • There are 103 washrooms (one fixture per 20 people), two-thirds of which are for women (65 female/38 male) and three unisex washrooms for the disabled.
  • There are designated wheelchair seating locations throughout the auditorium except on Ring 5.
  • There is direct access to the Osgoode subway station on the Yonge/University transit line.
  • There is parking for approximately 200 vehicles underneath the building and additional parking is just steps away at the GREEN P lot under Nathan Phillips Square. For directions, visit www.greenp.com.
  • There are three elevators in the Isadore and Rosalie Sharp City Room that serve the auditorium and two elevators to carry passengers from the parking garage to the main entrance.


Features of the Four Seasons Centre

Isadore and Rosalie Sharp City Room

  • The glass façade was custom designed in Germany and is the first of its kind in North America. This system uses large, point-loaded, double-glazed panels of highly transparent low-iron glass that are supported by suspended steel crosses and laterally braced by horizontal glass shelves.
  • The main façade has an exterior shade, computer controlled and linked to weather sensors, which can reduce heat gain in the Isadore and Rosalie Sharp City Room.
  • The glass staircase in the Isadore and Rosalie Sharp City Room is one of a kind—a glass staircase of this magnitude has never been attempted before. This is the longest free-spanning glass staircase in the world.
  • The glass staircase passed a load-test with 20,000 lb. of weights.


Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre

  • An annual series of free lunchtime and early evening concerts showcasing classical music, jazz, world music, dance, and more.
  • Performing area: 10 m x 6 m.
  • This space is used prior to opera and ballet productions for pre-performance chats.
  • Capacity is 100 seated on tiers, 54 on loose chairs and standing room along the walkways.


R. Fraser Elliott Hall

  • 2,070-seat five-tiered, European horseshoe-shaped auditorium.
  • Seat Count: Orchestra: 922
    Grand Ring: 128
    Ring 3: 300
    Ring 4: 290
    Ring 5: 430
  • The auditorium is 28.5 m wide and 32 m deep from the stage to the last row of the orchestra level. From the stage to the last row of Ring 5 is only 39.5 m.
  • The proscenium opening is 15.85 m wide x 12 m high.
  • The auditorium, orchestra pit and stage are designed to be an entirely separate and isolated structure within the building, resting on nearly 500 rubber acoustic isolation pads.
  • In addition to serving an acoustic purpose, the ceiling of R. Fraser Elliott Hall accommodates three lighting bridges and a follow-spot booth in the centre.


Rehearsal Hall

  • Accessible from both the loading dock/side stage and front-of-house, the rehearsal hall is the same size as the main stage. This naturally-lit area is used as a rehearsal and warm-up space for musicians, dancers, and singers as well as a performance space for recitals.
  • The rehearsal hall is also an acoustically isolated room within the Four Seasons Centre and rests on its own set of rubber acoustic isolation pads.


Backstage

  • Full rear and side stages allow three productions to be simultaneously playing in repertory in the house.
  • A large trap room under the stage allows performers to exit the stage through the floor during productions.
  • The fly tower is 33.9 m high (from the stage to the grid)—equivalent to an 11-storey building.
  • There are 86 manual counterweighted lines that can be used to “fly” scenery and theatrical equipment.
  • The loading dock is level with the stage and up to three 53-ft. trucks can reverse in from Richmond Street.
  • Dressing rooms for principals and stars are located at stage level. Other dressing rooms are above stage level, as is the Karen Kain Dance Studio which overlooks Nathan Phillips Square.
  • Wardrobe, wigs and make-up facilities are located backstage on the third floor. These facilities include two washing machines, one dryer, three steamers and one wig dryer.
  • Technical staff accommodation is at the trap room level, as are orchestra dressing rooms, the music library and storage spaces for props and other technical equipment.
  • There are also backstage catering facilities, separate lounges for artists, orchestra and crew and a small prep kitchen in the Props area.


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