Craftsmanship Built Winner 2021

Winner: 2021 Craftsmanship in Built Heritage Award

The Paradise Theatre is a surviving example of Toronto’s hallmark 20th-century theatres, complete with distinct Art Deco styling specific to the World War II era, with abstracted classical and geometrical elements. It was designed by Benjamin Brown, one of the earliest Jewish architects in Toronto, also credited with designing the Standard Theatre, one of the earliest Yiddish theatres in North America.

With a primary conservation approach of rehabilitation, the project began in 2014. The team balanced the needs of careful conservation with the requirement of the client for expanded use to ensure the theatre could operate as a multi-purpose hub. Reopened in December 2019, Paradise Theatre showcases the ability of Toronto’s historical theatres to become neighbourhood hubs once again.

This project brought back to life a stunning example of Toronto’s hallmark early 20th-century cinemas. Reopened in December 2019, Paradise Theatre is a roadmap for how Toronto’s historical theatres can become neighbourhood hubs once again. 

The Built Heritage jury felt that the project deserved recognition for creating a venue that engages the surrounding 21st century community, while maintaining the integrity of the original early 20th-century design. The project team demonstrated an impressive commitment to heritage design standards and craftsmanship while overcoming the many challenges presented by building code, using alternate means and methods to accommodate modern requirements. This includes maintaining the stone facade and the theatre’s distinctive interior Art Deco styling.