Cinesphere

Cinesphere is the world's first permanent IMAX movie theatre, located on the grounds of Ontario Place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Constructed in 1971, it is the largest IMAX theatre in Ontario. The theatre has both IMAX 70mm and IMAX with Laser projection systems. The theatre is considered a building of heritage value and shows movies each weekend. It is owned by the Government of Ontario, which owns the entire Ontario Place site.

Cinesphere
Location of Cinesphere in Toronto
General information
TypeCinema (IMAX)
Address955 Lake Shore Boulevard West
Town or cityToronto, Ontario
CountryCanada
Coordinates43°37′39.5″N 79°25′05.5″W
OpenedMay 22, 1971 (1971-05-22)
OwnerGovernment of Ontario
Design and construction
ArchitectEberhard Zeidler[1]
Architecture firmCraig Zeidler Strong
Renovating team
Renovating firmGow Hastings Architects[2] (2011 and 2017 interior renovations)
Other information
Seating capacity
Website
ontarioplace.com/en/cinesphere/

Cinesphere's is a 35 metres (115 ft) wide triodetic-domed structure, akin to a geodesic dome, with a 62-foot (18.9 m) outer radius, and a 56-foot (17.1 m) inner radius, supported by prefabricated steel and aluminium alloy tubes.[4] Eberhard Zeidler, who also designed the "Pods" of Ontario Place, also designed Cinesphere. Its screen is 80 feet (24 m) wide by 60 feet (18 m) high. Its seating capacity was originally 752, but this was reduced after a renovation for 3D projection in 2011 to 614. The building is surrounded by a moat, and the entrance area is through doorways on the east side connected to the Ontario Place pod bridges and staircases to the Ontario Place West Island. Exiting is done through doorways leading to ramps over the moat to the West Island. The seating is stadium-style seating with no obstructions. The Cinesphere is wheelchair accessible.

The Cinesphere opened with two specially-commissioned films. Graeme Ferguson's North of Superior was the first IMAX film commissioned for and screened at Cinesphere. Seasons in the Mind a non-IMAX film about Eastern Ontario, also played at the Cinesphere at its opening.[5] During the run of the theme park, Cinesphere would usually show a programme of two or more one-hour films per day, repeated several times per day, from a selection of four Ontario-commissioned films. During the off-season, Cinesphere showed commercial films.[6]

In 1991, the sound system was upgraded adding digital capabilities. In 2011, the original projection system was replaced with an IMAX GT 3D system and new NEXIOS playback system. In celebration of its 40th Anniversary in 2011, the theatre closed for six months to undergo extensive renovations. Toronto architecture firm Gow Hastings Architects was awarded the refurbishment of the theatre in 2010.[7] On February 1, 2012, the Government of Ontario announced that Cinesphere would close while Ontario Place is under renovation. On July 31, 2014, the Government of Ontario announced plans to revitalize the area as an urban park with the Cinesphere and pods retained. During the renovations, the theatre was used as a testbed for IMAX's new laser projection system. In 2014, the Government of Ontario designated Cinesphere as a structure of Cultural Heritage Value.

In 2017, a new projection system "IMAX with Laser" was installed in addition to its 70mm film projector. In September 2017, Cinesphere temporarily re-opened for special screenings of Dunkirk (2017) and North of Superior (1971) as part of the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival.[8] In October 2017, the Government of Ontario announced that it would reopen as a permanent theatre.[9] It reopened on November 3, 2017.

Other details
  • Film format: 15 perforation 70 mm IMAX, IMAX with Laser
  • Sound formats: IMAX

Awards

See also

References
  1. "Ontario Place Cinesphere and Pods and CN Tower receive 2017 Prix du XXe siècle". Royal Architectural Institute of Canada. April 25, 2017. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  2. Gow Hastings
  3. "Cinesphere - Ontario Place". Ontario Place. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  4. "Ontario Place". Canadian Architect (May 2017): 68.
  5. Kareda, Urjo (May 20, 1971). "Two films shown at Ontario Place show value of the huge screen". Toronto Daily Star. p. 32.
  6. McRae, Earl (May 18, 1971). "The lakefront showplace that began 2 years ago with half a tennis ball". Toronto Daily Star. p. 11.
  7. "Ontario Place: Building on our Legacy". Canadian Architect. 2019-05-08. Retrieved 2020-06-02.
  8. Grief, Amy. "TIFF is reopening the Ontario Place Cinesphere". BlogTO. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  9. Stevenson, Jane (October 26, 2017). "Toronto's Cinesphere reopening to public next month". Toronto Sun.
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