Project Grand Jeté Master Plan

Stage I: Jarvis Street Site

180,000 square feet, including new construction and restoration of two heritage buildings (Northfield House, 1856 and Havergal Ladies' College, 1898 and 1901) and underground parking. The existing Betty Oliphant Theatre will receive back-of-house renovations, and Ivey House (approximately 4,000 square feet) will be reconfigured to house The Shoe Room, NBS's retail store.

Celia Franca Centre

Dance Studios – 12 dance studios (8 large, 3 medium, and 1 extra large) constructed to international standards.

Common Spaces – Distinct sets of change rooms divided by age group, plus new dressing rooms and wardrobe for the Betty Oliphant Theatre; Mona Campbell Square with café, library/resource centre, study areas and casual seating.

Margaret McCain Academic Building

8 academic classrooms; laboratories for computer, science and photography studies; art studio; audio-visual room; music room; ESL room; and study rooms.

Northfield House

Restoration and adaptive reuse of existing 1856 building for executive offices of NBS.

Stage II: Maitland Street Site

The existing Maitland Street facility (approximately 50,000 square feet) will be redeveloped by GBCA with new and renovated space to house NBS's residential component, including the addition of common rooms, private study areas and a spacious dining hall in the 1911 Quaker Meeting House.

Development of Project Grand Jeté

1993

Feasibility study is launched to address facility needs to 2025 in response to Canada Council's assessment of NBS facilities as "the area in greatest need."

1997

Completion of three-phase facility feasibility study by Sims Moelich and Associates and Goldsmith Borgal and Company Architects (GBCA) with funding from the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Ministry of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation.

Completion of fundraising feasibility study and audit by Arts & Communications and Genovese Vanderhoof & Associates.

2000

Agreement reached between the CBC, City of Toronto, the National Ballet School and Context Development Inc., whereby NBS is to receive one-half of the CBC property on Toronto's Jarvis Street.

Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects (KPMB) and GBCA form a joint venture to complete the Jarvis Street campus, Stage I of Project Grand Jeté.

Unveiling of architectural model of proposed NBS development designed by architects GBCA and KPMB.

2001

Approval of the Official Plan amendment and rezoning application by the Toronto Downtown Community Council.

Approval of the heritage components by the Toronto Preservation Board.

Land transfer closing.

2002

Announcement of joint Federal / Provincial capital funding of $40 million under the Canada-Ontario Infrastructure Program.

2003

Sod-turning event in June marks the beginning of construction.

2004

Ceremonial pouring of the concrete floor of the first studio in the new dance training centre.

Breakthrough announcement of two lead gifts of $15 million and $5 million launches the public phase of the capital campaign.

2005

Construction completed for the Celia Franca Centre and Margaret McCain Academic Building, part of the Jarvis Street campus, Stage I of Project Grand Jeté.

2007

Projected completion of Stage II – the complete renovation of the Maitland Street properties into an expanded student residence.

2008

Official opening of Residence facilities.