Granite Disc Monument Reveal at Massey Hall

Posted November 25, 2020

The black granite disc at Massey Tower in Toronto was recently revealed to the public. The monument honours the legacy of the iconic jazz club the Colonial Tavern. The record-shaped disc was commissioned in 1996 and inscribed with the names 175 of the music greats who played at the famed club during its heyday, including jazz legends like Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald and Oscar Peterson. Originally, the monument was located in the parkette where the tavern once stood, but was moved to a city works yard when the site was sold.

As landscape architect, our scope included: coordinating with the City on relocating and evaluating the granite disc; preparing drawings and details for the installation; coordination with the original fabrication team; and, coordination of slip resistance testing. Now prominently displayed in the Yonge Street sidewalk, it serves as a permanent landmark and reminder of this vibrant piece of Toronto’s cultural heritage.