Rooms That Work BACK

A "Next Generation Baordroom" at the Intercontinental Toronto Centre.

There are traditional meeting rooms, equipped with the usual audio-visual staples and then there are powerhouse rooms designed with enough bells-and-whistles technology to send your message to the moon and back (or at least around the world)!

When the office boardroom just won't do, Toronto has venues aplenty with state-of-the art staging, seating, lights and link-ups to facilitate your brainstorming mission for a few, to multi-media blitzes for hundreds, even mega-thousands where virtual broadcast is available.

Here's a look at a variety of tech-powered spaces around town primed to host everything from executive summits and shareholder meetings, to product launches and press conferences.

Intercontinental Toronto Centre
Tucked discreetly behind paneled doors just off the hotel lobby are the hushed inner sanctums of Conquest and Visionary, two luxurious “Next Generation Boardrooms” equipped with a full artillery of meeting technology-from dual 60-inch plasma screens and SMART Boards with two-way PC interfacing, to sophisticated video-Web conferencing and high-resolution digital cameras, all operated by user-friendly touch-screen controls. With seating up to 22 and 20 respectively, every detail in these handsome “war rooms” is geared to ergonomic comfort and confidentiality—can you say merger negotiations? The rooms have dedicated support personnel and a 24-hour business centre.

Theatre D's Art Deco cinema area.

Theatre D Digital
Once home to silent films, this historic 1927 Art Deco movie theatre, just minutes from Bloor and Yonge, now packs a technology punch as a turn-key multimedia and post-production centre. The plug-and-play facility includes a 600-seat “cinema” with Dolby surround sound, high-definition digital projection (on a 45-ft. screen, no less!) and satellite downlink, plus simulcasting and online web streaming capabilities. The concession stand in the reception-lobby area (200 stand-up) offers a novel bar and food area with a smaller upper reception space enroute to the theatre's balcony. Outside, roll out the red carpet and set your event's name in marquee lights

MaRs Collaboration Centre
A unique addition to Toronto's business and research community, the driving premise behind this innovative new facility is to be a catalyst for the exchange and building of ideas. Every leading-edge technology and broadcast capability possible is wired throughout to promote interactive discussion, from room-to-room or from remote locations. The restored façade of the circa-1913 heritage building on College near University belies the interior's airy, modern glass-splendour—the gorgeous atrium begs a gala reception. Six “collaboration rooms” with flexible configurations for eight to 90 people, boast screens, LCD projectors, high-resolution cameras, electronic whiteboards and wireless connections. A 4,600 sq. ft. auditorium, divisible by thirds, each with its own large drop-down screen, seats 380. Audience response systems, simultaneous translation and top facilitation experts are also available.

A presentation set-up in the TSX Broadcast & Conference Centre.

TSX Broadcast & Conference Centre
Put some stock into your event at the place where the financial industry ticks. Here, groups of up to 200 reception-style can piggyback on the new state-of-the art communications and presentation technology in the Gallery adjacent to the media broadcast area. With window walls overlooking King Street, and a viewing area of media at work, this funky high-tech area hums with a current of exciting activity. Features include two eight-foot rear presentation screens, six LCD monitors, interactive PC-based displays and plug-and-play media connections. Customize the ticker tape monitor with your event message.

Pantages Suites Hotel & Spa
Wellness meets technology in the hotel's 6,400 sq. ft. third-floor conference area, which opened in April 2005. The hip Zen-like environment's minimalist lines and serene colour palette create a unique urban business retreat. Try the holistic approach to encouraging productive thinking with a program that can include an organic menu, yoga sessions, massage, stimulating aromatherapy and the relaxing “white noise” of nature sounds. Six boardrooms offer varying capacities, from 16 at a table to 70 reception-style, and feature floor-to-ceiling windows, individual climate and lighting controls, motorized AV screens, blackout curtains, high-definition LCD projection, and wireless Internet connections. A larger area for conferences, trade show or galas accommodates 350 reception-style or breaks down into three separate rooms.