Guild Inn to be renovated for 2016 re-opening

TORONTO—Toronto historic landmark The Guild Inn will be undergoing a $20-million restoration over the next year with a 2016 re-opening planned.

The renovated venue will become known as The Guild Inn Estate and will be operated by Dynamic Hospitality and Entertainment Group Inc.

The new complex will be comprised of 40,000 square feet of useable area featuring ceremony rooms, bridal suites and a restaurant, capable of accommodating events for up to 1,000 guests.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held Nov. 26 with Toronto mayor John Tory and ward councillor Paul Ainslie on hand to tour the grounds of the property, which overlooks the Scarborough Bluffs.

Dynamic has hired Giancarlo Garofalo Architect Inc. and Peter Pascaris of Queen’s Quay Architects International (Q2) as the design consultants for the restoration project.

Among other works, Garofalo undertook the adaptive reuse and renovation of Toronto art deco building the Eglinton Grand, while Q2 has worked on site plans for The Guild Inn in the past. Architect and heritage consultant Philip Goldsmith will also participate.

The Guild Inn was originally built in 1914 as a private home and also served as an artists colony and a hotel. Designed in an Arts and Crafts style, it sits on 88 acres.

The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority acquired the property for use as a public park in 1978 with an operational hotel until its doors closed in 2001.

The City of Toronto has been the most recent manager of the property.

"Citizens of the GTA will finally see the landmark location revived to its original splendour and glory to play host to the most important celebrations in the city," said Sam D’Uva, managing director of Dynamic, in a media statement.

Plans are that each function room will have an outdoor terrace used as a pre-function space.

The banquet space will feature a floor-to-ceiling glass wall overlooking the parklands, historic monuments and a vaulted gazebo.

The renovated Bickford Bistro restaurant will also be part of the facilities when the property reopens.

The Dynamic Group of Companies operates the Atlantis Pavilions at Ontario Place, The Eglinton Grand, Berlin, Wendel Clark’s Classic Grill and Sports Lounge (Vaughan, Burlington and Hamilton), The Loft by Wendel Clark and Yuk Yuk’s Toronto, Mississauga and Vaughan locations.