Automotive Building

The Automotive Building is a two-storey Art Deco building, in size. The internal plan is a large open space, with a mezzanine on the second floor surrounding the main floor. The structure's base is stone from a quarry near Queenston Heights, Ontario, with "artificial stone" up top. Sticking to all-Canadian material and workmanship added to the cost: using Indiana stone would have cost $989,299. The open floor was converted to a ballroom, claimed to be largest in Toronto, which can be sub-divided in two. The original glass roof over the open floor was replaced with a new ceiling. The second floor mezzanine saw the addition of 20 meeting rooms. ==Construction==

Motor cars were first exhibited at the Canadian National Exhibition in 1897. In 1902, the CNE built the Transportation Building, where cars were displayed alongside streetcars, railway exhibits and carriages. Early automobiles on display included models from Autocar, Packard, Peerless, Stevens-Duryea and Thomas. The building was destroyed by fire and was replaced with a new building in 1909. By 1911, there were no longer any horse-drawn vehicles on display. The display was named the National Motor Show in 1916. including the Electrical Building. A design contest was announced in later October 1928 and launched in early November, with the purpose of starting work in the winter so that the building would be complete in time for the 1929 CNE. The contest received thirty potential designs for the structure. The winner, was local architect Douglas Kertland, apparently winning by a slim point margin, was announced December 12, 1928. Charles B. Dolphin won second place, and Mathers & Haldenby third. Deemed the "most elaborate automotive building in the world", the CNEA withheld the design until they could adjust the interior. It was to be built "immediately south" of the Electrical & Engineering Building. and $1,000,299 upon the beginning of construction. Interior dimensions were set at long by . The main storey was to offer of exhibition area, and the mezzanine floor . The building was opened August 26, 1929 by Ontario Premier Howard Ferguson. ==History==

The building was initially used to display the latest car models to the public. The National Motor Show was last held in 1967. In 1988, the building was designated a "listed" heritage structure. Since 2009, the building has been used exclusively for meetings, events and conferences. In 2017, a new sponsorship agreement with the City of Toronto led to the conference centre being renamed to the Beanfield Centre. • Seventh Annual Shirley Temple "movie double" competition • National Motor Show, 1929–1967 • Canadian Graphic Arts Show • Canadian Mobile Home and Travel Trailer Show • Canadian National Samples Show • Canadian Packaging Exposition, later known as PacEx • Canadian Winter Sports Show • General Motors Motorama • National Automotive Parts and Equipment Show • Plastics Show of Canada • Toronto International Boat Show and National Marine Trade Show As Allstream Centre • Juno Awards Dinner 2011 ==References==