ARIDO Event Space

The Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario rents its office meeting and event space in Liberty Village.

About the venue

The space is about 7,500 square feet on top of the Toy Factory Lofts, a building more than a century old. The small and large rooms can be combined for a reception of up to 120. Requests are made through an online form, and the association says it replies within two business days.

On EventPlans.ca it is listed as a loft and conference centre in Toronto, at 43 Hanna Avenue, Suite C536, Toronto, ON M6K 1X1.

Event spaces

The venue lists these spaces. Capacities are the venue’s own figures and change with the layout you choose.

• Small room: 12 boardroom
• Large room: 25 classroom, 30 theatre, 18 boardroom
• Small and Large combined: 120 reception, 30 classroom, 40 theatre, 37 boardroom

Capacity

The venue publishes a maximum of 120 standing reception, 40 theatre style. Those are top figures for an empty room. A dance floor, a stage, a buffet or a photo booth each take space, so plan on fewer guests than the maximum once your layout is drawn.

A useful rule: a seated dinner at rounds of ten needs about 1 to 1.2 square metres per guest, a standing reception about 0.7, and theatre seating about 0.6, before you add a stage or dance floor. The venue capacity calculator does the arithmetic for your room.

Events it hosts

According to its own event pages, the venue hosts corporate events.

For timelines, budgets and checklists, start with the corporate holiday party hub.

Questions to ask on your site visit

Bring these to your walk-through. Get the answers in writing before you sign.

• Is the space rented empty, and which tables, chairs and kitchen equipment are included?
• Must you use caterers from an approved list, or can you bring your own?
• Who holds the liquor licence, or will you need a Special Occasion Permit?
• Are there certified rigging points, and what are their load ratings?
• What are the load-in times, the elevator size and the street-parking rules for vendor trucks?
• Is there air conditioning and enough power for production?

Planning entertainment here

Open lofts with high ceilings can take bigger production, and some have rigging points for aerial acts. Ask for the rigging load ratings in writing before booking anything that hangs.

Send every performer’s technical needs to the venue before you book: floor space, ceiling height, power, sound and changing room.

Getting there

Check the venue website for directions, parking rates and accessible entrances, and send the details to guests with the invitation.

Official website: arido.ca/event-space-rental

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