Cinesphere

Cinesphere is a theatre located at Ontario Place on the waterfront in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Opened in 1967 as part of the Ontario Pavilion for Expo 67, it is widely regarded as the first permanent IMAX dome theater. The building is a prominent example of mid-20th-century Canadian architecture and a landmark of immersive cinema, featuring a hemispherical projection screen within a circular auditorium.

Design and construction: The Cinesphere was conceived as a futuristic emblem of Ontario Place. Its exterior is a white, geodesic-like dome that rises from the water’s edge. The project was led by architect Eberhard Zeidler and associates, with engineers and cinema specialists shaping the interior to accommodate large-format film projection and a dome-screen experience.

Technology and program: The venue was built to accommodate IMAX-style dome-format presentations, enabling a wide, immersive image with a high level of brightness and clarity. Over its life, the theatre has seen upgrades to projection and sound systems to preserve image quality while maintaining the dome-screen aesthetic. It has hosted documentary, science, and feature-film programs as part of Ontario Place programming and special events.

Impact and current status: As a surviving remnant of Expo 67 and a pioneer in immersive cinema, Cinesphere remains a symbol of Canadian design and cinema history. It continues to function as a cultural venue within Ontario Place, focusing on film screenings and related events, and is frequently cited in discussions of architectural and cinema heritage.