Hart House

Hart House is a University of Toronto building that opened in 1919 and was designed by architect Henry Sproatt.

About the venue

It offers more than a dozen rentable spaces. The Great Hall measures 115 by 38 feet and has stained glass, oak panelling, timbered ceilings and a Steinway concert grand piano. Ramped accessible entrances are on Tower Road and at 18 Queen’s Park Crescent West. St. George subway station, which has elevators, is the nearest accessible station.

On EventPlans.ca it is listed as a unique venue in Toronto, at 7 Hart House Circle, Toronto, ON.

Event spaces

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

• Great Hall: 250 seated meal with dance floor / 350 cocktail reception / 300 lecture

Capacity

The venue publishes a maximum of 250 seated, 350 standing reception, 300 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 weddings, conferences and meetings, galas and fundraisers, corporate events and private social events.

For timelines, budgets and checklists, start with the wedding planning hub, conference planning hub, gala planning hub.

Questions to ask on your site visit

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

• Which spaces are included in the rental, and which are shared?
• Are caterers and bar services in-house, approved-list, or bring your own?
• What are the rules on décor, rigging and open flame?
• What time must music stop and the space be cleared?
• How do vendors load in?
• What is the weather or overflow plan?

Planning entertainment here

Unique venues have their own rules, so send any performer’s technical needs (ceiling height, floor space, power, sound) to the venue before you book the act.

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

Getting there

The venue’s information points to public transit nearby. The venue states that its event spaces are accessible. Check the venue website for directions, parking rates and accessible entrances, and send the details to guests with the invitation.

Official website: harthouse.ca/spaces