The federal and provincial governments are each investing $30 million into Phase 2 of the Massey Hall Revitalization project, which will see the renovation and expansion of Canada’s oldest concert hall.

Phase 1 of the project, which included decommissioning the old Albert Building and preparing the footprint for the new tower, was completed in 2017.

The venue was closed in July 2018 for Phase 2 of the project, which will include a full restoration of the exterior and interior of the building, including 100 original stained-glass windows. A new seven-storey tower addition will feature a live music stage and performance studio. The budget for Phase 2 is up to $113 million. When complete, the revitalized Massey Hall will feature three fully accessible performance stages.

“People travel from all over the world to experience a concert at Massey Hall in person. The renewal of Massey Hall will not only preserve the incredible history of the venue, it will also help Ontario’s up-and-coming artists and performers by creating a new performance space with a 500-person capacity to help develop their skills,” said Michael Tibollo, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, in a press release.

The iconic Massey Hall is a designated National Historic Site, built in 1894 as a gift from Hart Massey to the citizens of Toronto. It has hosted thousands of performances from musical legends including Ella Fitzgerald, The Tragically Hip, Rush and Gordon Lightfoot. Historical figures including Winston Churchill and the Dalai Lama have also appeared on its stage.