Artscape Daniels Launchpad celebrated their official opening with a jam-packed party in the co-working space attended by high profile guests that included the likes of Toronto Mayor John Tory.
Designed by Quadrangle Interiors, this new collaboration and entrepreneurship hub for creatives is the first of its kind in Canada. Located in the Daniels Waterfront - City of the Arts development on Toronto’s East Bayfront, the objective of the over 30,000-square-foot facility is to support and inspire artists and designers to build thriving careers, organizations and businesses. Members will have access to a highly creative, multi-disciplinary environment, with a myriad of equipment and technologies, as well as entrepreneurship programs and activities, services, resources and collaborative opportunities to fuel artistic exploration and innovation.
Quadrangle principal and project lead, Caroline Robbie says, “A great new interior isn’t something that artists and designers expect when they think about where they create. We wanted to change that perception with distinctive interiors that inspire creativity and professionalism in equal measure.” Quadrangle took a broad and eclectic design approach to create a cluster of individualized spaces, each with its own distinct theme and personality. There are bright, light-filled studios boasting state-of-the-art equipment; witty, colourful meeting rooms for networking and professional support services; and calm, simple spaces for quiet, focused work, and abundant access to natural light and views of the city and Lake Ontario.
Workshop zones include a fine metals and jewellery studio, a textiles and fashion studio with a silk screening darkroom, a woodworking and prototyping studio. A large event space can be subdivided into three parts. Individual project rooms can be rented by members for long-term project development, or serve as independent studios for start-ups. The Commons, a large, centrally-located working and socializing space includes a kitchen, a banquette and a “living room” with a faux fireplace. As of January 2019, there will also be a digital media lab for photography and video along with full recording and audio booths and edit suites for sound recording and VFX.
