Performing Arts Centre Visit

Today the class had the pleasure of visiting the Toronto Circus School located in the revitalised Downsview Park complex in Northern Toronto.  The event allowed students to not only take in the appropriate equipment and design considerations for an aerial acrobatic facility, but to also experience some of the activities that they are currently designing for in the final studio project.

Activities carried out at the centre included:
The Initial Warm-Up

The Mini Double Trampoline:

The Aerial Hoop:

The Flying Trapeze:

Design Concept 1

One of my design concepts is a dynamic public space designed as a large atrium space, which will feature a range of Cirque de Soleil programs; aerial acrobatics as the main feature (a human chandelier), water feature below (pool bowl), transforming stage (possibly), etc. Here’s a video on aerial acrobatics, which will probably shape most of my design. Also, a key design element in my design is the use of light, which I will try and appropriate into the entire complex (emphasis on try).