Toronto Star

Sometimes it's hard not to love this city. Wednesday was one of those times. The occasion was the official opening of the National Ballet School on Jarvis St. Normally, the appearance of a specialized facility such as this would be of little interest beyond the immediate community. But in this case, the sheer architectural excellence of the project, its profound sense of urbanity and rigorous institutional intelligence serve as a model to Toronto and the world. Rest assured, the $100-million complex will draw visitors from around the globe. It is a splendid example of how good architecture can meet the needs of both a professional school and the larger city. Designed by Goldsmith, Borgal and Co. and Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg, this is one of those rare schemes that works on multiple levels.