Toronto, Canada – New York City nightclub legend Peter Gatien has set up shop in Toronto to launch Circa, a one-of-a-kind nightclub and entertainment venue, that will link Toronto to the global meccas of New York, London, Paris and Tokyo.  Located at 126 John Street in the heart of the nightclub district, the four-story, 53,000 square foot space is already being referred to as Gatien’s magnum opus.  True to form, Gatien has put together a high-caliber team which includes; avant-garde designer and architect Joakim Hannerz; award-winning NYC design firm AvroKO; Kidrobot Founder Paul Budnitz; former Drake Hotel Arts & Entertainment Director Jeff Rogers; and GEM Events’ Craig Pettigrew, promoter in Montreal and Toronto fortrance legend DJ Tiësto and others.  The state-of-the-art space is poised to become an arts, entertainment, and fashion showcase unlike anything else in the world.

Known as the King of Clubs for his wildly successful United States nightclubs including New York’s Limelight, Tunnel, Club USA and the Palladium, the multi-tiered event and entertainment space is set to become a cultural tour-de-force incorporating elements of art, design, architecture, cinema and music into it’s design. While the space will function as an entertainment venue and nightclub on weekends, it will also offer a rich itinerary of arts and cultural events throughout the week. The venue is scheduled to open in August 2006.

“We wanted to create something in Toronto that would foster cultural expression on a grand scale,” says Peter Gatien, the renowned NYC nightclub owner. “Circa will bring a new level of experience to this city by creating a focal point that will attract this generation’s leading cultural architects from around the globe. We are building an accessible showcase of what’s cutting edge in culture, music, fashion, art, and society – it’s a party you’re not going to want to miss.”

Work is already underway as construction teams race towards the yet-to-be finalized spring launch date. While the new venue will retain most of the structural features of the former mega-arcade including swooping balconies and two escalators, extensive interior renovations will transform the space into a state-of-the-art, interactive venue. Some of the planned features include an interactive digital bar, a cinema screening room, an in-house recording studio, art and video installations, and of course entertainment from some of the world’s top musicians and DJs.

ARTFUL METROPOLIS
Focus on art as a large part of the experience at Circa is unmistakable as the entire space is designed to foster creation and collaboration at almost every turn. The venue will feature numerous displays throughout it’s four stories where artists, both local and international, are invited to explore boundary-pushing ideas. Museum-style glass cases will stand alongside high-tech video walls, light boxes, state-of-the-art projection systems, and other interactive, multimedia displays providing visitors with a constantly changing art-landscape.

“This space is a canvas where artists will be invited to showcase their work, and hopefully challenge themselves to push their boundaries,” says Gatien. “Circa will not be a static space. Our plan is to constantly reinvent ourselves by forming new relationships with artists and arts institutions from around the world. We’ll be changing installations as frequently as every 6 weeks.”

As a testament to the unique collaborative nature of Circa, Kidrobot creator Paul Budnitz has designed an exclusive Kidrobot Room on the third floor of the space. A world’s first, the bar and lounge area will feature the colourful world of Kidrobot, including signature creations such as Dunny and Munny, and Frank Kozik’s Smorkin’ Labbit character. While plans are still under wraps, the high-concept space is already creating a buzz among collectors and fans from around the world.

INTERACTION, PARTICIPATION
Circa’s multi-tiered layout is a people watcher’s dream. The unique layout of the balconies makes it easy to see from one area of the club to another – which is a phenomenon the designers have purposefully heightened. From the You Me Bar on the main floor, to laser guided binoculars mounted on upper levels, to a high-tech monitoring system available to guests in the special VIP areas, Circa is set up as a voyeuristic smorgasbord.

“We want to encourage a high level of positive interaction,” says Joakim Hannerz, part of the high caliber design team that also includes Travis Bass and NYC agency, AvroKO. “Everybody likes to look at other people – I think it’s hard-wired into us – and we’ve taken that urge and tried to bring it up a notch. We’ve created an environment where people can interact in a very open and engaging way. This is a place where people are going to connect.”

In order to diffuse the immense scale of the venue, Circa’s designers paid close attention to ensuring that there is plenty of variety in environment. Each floor offers a number of highly distinct areas, some with their own sound and entertainment systems, each with its own distinct appeal. On any given night the space can accommodate multiple events, including multiple DJs, live music, and film screenings.

“We plan on having two, three, or even four distinct events going on at any one time,” says Jeff Rogers, Curator, Art and Live Music. “Craig Pettigrew and I will be working closely to ensure that we’re drawing a diverse range of people for art, film and music events that compliment each other. We hope to create a space that is appealing and inclusive, but at the same time gives people a chance to venture outside their comfort zones to experience other aspects of culture that they may not normally appreciate. It’s an exciting way to approach a project like this and I’ve no doubt that we’re up to the challenge – we’ve got some very exciting events already in the works.”

THE VENUE
Circa is a 53,000 square foot, 4 story space at the corner of John St. and Richmond St. in the heart of downtown Toronto’s nightclub district that can hold up to 3,000 people. The main floor features a large dance floor and grand stage backed by the DJ booth and VIP area. Towering above the dance floor, are three more floors featuring undulating balconies which provide a clear view of the action below. While grand in scale, Circa will feature a multitude of intimate areas, each with its own distinct vibe, where visitors can interact on a more personal level.

THE ENTRANCE HALL
In a purposeful departure from the usual nightclub entrance, Circa will feature two entrances and an indoor cueing area flanked by art display cases. The ‘indoor entrance’ is designed to help curb sidewalk congestion and enable visitors to gain access to the venue in a more civilized fashion.Once inside, art patrons and club goers alike will travel down a grand hallway that will feature video installations by cutting edge artists on floor to ceiling video walls that extend 40’ into the space. As visitors continue towards a low-tech light installation at the end of the hallway, the video wall breaks to reveal a series of glassed-in display cases that will house art installations and other surprises that will be changed on a regular basis.

THE WASHROOM BAR
“We had a washroom bar at the Tunnel in New York,” says Gatien. “When I meet people who partied there back in the 80’s they inevitably tell me that their most memorable nights happened in that bar.  There is something about the concept that people really respond to. It’s this kind of unique feature that makes the experience in my venues so unforgettable. You’ve just got to be there to get it.”

THE MAIN DANCE FLOOR
Central to the venue is the main dance floor which can accommodate more than 1000 people as they groove to the DJ’s beats, or rock to a live band. The ceiling soars 4 stories above, and will feature hanging three-dimensional forms which can be ‘animated’ using a specially designed, high-tech light and video projection system. The sound system on the main floor will be one of five, separate, state-of-the-art systems delivering unparalleled sound quality throughout the space.

THE YOU ME BAR
The You Me Bar is located just off the main dance floor and is designed to heighten interaction with a bit of playful voyeurism. Convex mirrors along the bar top will provide a convenient place to fix hair, or touch up makeup while ordering a drink. The mirrors also house small cameras which will broadcast images of club goers onto plasma screens mounted above the bar fueling a whole new level of social interaction.

THE DJ BOOTH
Set high above the main dance floor the ultra-exclusive DJ booth is the perfect altar for the high priests of beat.  Three different turntable configurations will offer DJs the flexibility to work with their setup of choice – appeasing even the most particular beat hustler.  The DJ booth also houses one of the more coveted spots in the venue: the DJ’s own private pad for his or her crew and guests.

THE SENSA BAR
Located on the second floor, the Sensa Bar will dazzle the senses with its interactive, touch-sensitive surfaces. Designed to react to touch, and even movement, the bar’s patented Sensacell surface lights up when an object (or limb) makes contact. The highly responsive surface can be programmed to react in a variety of ways creating lively interactions between patrons. Two private booths within the Sensa Bar will entertain club-goers with even more interaction: touch-sensitive tables within the booths will allow patrons to control light and sound fixtures in the immediate area by touching various parts of the table.

THE SAUNA BAR
Glide down one of the venue’s unique aerial walkways on the second floor and you will find yourself in the sensual Sauna Bar. Modeled after a traditional Swedish sauna, the space features natural wood paneling, low benches and bunches of Venik – thick bunches of birch leaves used to promote circulation in traditional saunas – hanging from the ceiling. This is the place to relax and chill with friends as white towel clad bartenders serve up herbaceous martinis.

CAMPARI BALLROOM
Designed to resemble a surrealistic 1920’s Italian ballroom, the space will feature luxurious leather banquettes, rich tapestries and ornate columns creating a space that envelops you in luxury. Fully self-sufficient with it’s own bar, DJ booth, and live concert stage, The Campari Ballroom features more than 4,100 square feet and can accommodate more than 600 people. It is the perfect setting for intimate live performances, private parties, or corporate events.

SKYY CINEMA LOUNGE
Make your way to the back of Circa’s third floor and you’ll find yourself surrounded by the comfortable chic of Skyy Cinema Lounge. Taking inspiration from the clean lines of Eero Aarnio’s famous pod chair the ultra-mod room is the perfect venue for film screenings or an intimate private party and features a bar, DJ booth and a 16-foot film screen.

KIDROBOT ROOM
Yes! It’s true: Kidrobot is coming to Circa – along with Dunny, Munny, and all their friends! Paul Budnitz, Founder of Kidrobot and premier purveyor of urban vinyl and plush collectables has designed a one-of-a-kind, limited edition, (but not collectable), Kidrobot Room at Circa. While rumours abound, final plans for the room will not be unveiled until closer to the opening of the venue.”