Pinewood Toronto Studios announced plans to build a new 135,000-square-foot film and television support facility on the Toronto Port Lands. This will complement its existing state-of-the art 300,000-square-foot studio campus on the Toronto waterfront.
Toronto Port Lands Company and Pinewood Toronto Studios will enter into a long-term lease for an additional 1.75 acres of land for the development of much needed space to support Toronto’s thriving film and television sector.
“This is a much anticipated milestone which serves as a reaffirmation of our growth and commitment to attract and support all levels of production in Toronto,” said Paul Bronfman, chairman/CEO of William F. White International and chairman of Pinewood Toronto Studios. “I’m proud we’re leading the way in adding more purpose-built facilities to our city’s thriving film and television industry.”
“This impressive expansion is a great example of an effective cooperative partnership between Toronto’s public and private sectors,” said city Councilor Michael Thompson, chair of Toronto’s Economic Development Committee. “The expansion at Pinewood Toronto will create well-paid jobs, generate a robust economic spillover, and increase the city’s revenue. Projects like this one support the growth of our film and television sector and add to our clout as a North American industry leader.”
The support facility will include four new flex/workshop spaces, production offices, structured parking and ancillary retail space.
“This expansion builds our capacity to host additional productions simultaneously on our lot,” explained Blake Steels, president of Pinewood Toronto Studios. “This means more films for Toronto which is good for the whole film industry, the whole city. In 2013, Pinewood Toronto Studios added three purpose-built sound stages to our campus so we could support productions of all sizes.”
Less than three kilometers from the downtown core on Toronto’s eastern waterfront, Pinewood Toronto Studios currently sits on approximately 14 acres of land, with options to expand to 30 acres. Expansion plans include upgrades and improvements to the company’s film and television studios, flexible spaces for media, and complementary uses, such as culture, green spaces, retail and hotel.
The company expects to open the new space in 2018.