Toronto's Cinespace Studios expands production hub

The expansion will see three soundstages and support spaces totalling 130,000 sq. ft.

By Priyanca Rajput 28 Sep 2022

Toronto's Cinespace Studios expands production hub — Rendering. Credit: Gensler

Cinespace Studios is expanding its Marine Terminal Studio Hub to develop Toronto's growing film and television production infrastructure.

The film studio facility has entered a long-term agreement with with PortsToronto which will see the redevelopment of Marine Terminal 52, creating three production stages and support spaces totalling 130,000 sq. ft.

Located in Toronto's Port Lands, global architecture and planning firm Gensler is set to design the studio.

The expansion in the city's Studio District follows Cinespace's Marine Terminal 51, which opened in 2019 and currently hosts Netflix's production hub. It was recently home to Guillermo Del Toro's thriller, Nightmare Alley, starring Bradley Cooper and Cate Blanchett.

Cinespace currently boasts the largest studio facility in Toronto with 1.3m sq. ft of production space, comprised of 25 stages over three sites.

The redevelopment of the site is expected to create over 300 new jobs in the city, and continues to support the infrastructure in Ontario that generates more than 48,000 jobs annually and $2.88bn in direct spend.

Commenting on the deal, Ashley Rice, president and co-managing partner, Cinespace Studios said: “We are proud to continue our investment in Toronto that started over 30 years ago. It's a privilege to partner with PortsToronto again and be selected to develop Terminal 52 into a second facility that will meet the increased demand for production infrastructure.

“The Marine Terminal Studio Hub is an integral part of the Port Lands' revitalisation and its future as a creative centre for the city and the province.”

RJ Steenstra, president and CEO, PortsToronto added: “Our goal for this development was to identify opportunities to develop the existing land and deliver maximum benefit in the area, including greater support for the growing employment district that has emerged in the Port Lands.

“Cinespace Studios' development allow for the area to remain consistent with the activities of a successful and operational port, as this remains PortsToronto's single priority in the area given the economic impact of the port for both commercial shipping and cruise ship operations.”

Cinespace Toronto's production portfolio includes: AMC Networks' upcoming Beacon 23, MGM TV/Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale, Sony Pictures TV's Accused, MGM's Flint Strong and Netflix's upcoming Cabinet of Curiosities.