Toronto’s Princess of Wales Theatre is under threat of demolition after plans were unveiled to replace the theatre with a multi-use complex.

Proposals were unveiled earlier this month by theatre owner David Mirvish and Toronto-born architect Frank Gehry. They call for renovation of a large portion of the city’s theatre district and demolition of several buildings, amongst them the 2,000-seat theatre. The newest of these buildings, the theatre opened in May 1993 with the Cameron Mackintosh musical Miss Saigon. It is currently home to the Canadia production of War Horse.

In their place, Mirvish and Gehry propose a multi-use complex of three towers consisting of up to 85 storeys, a new art gallery, a new campus for the Ontario College of Art and Design University, retail space and flats. The proposed development site adjoins the Royal Alexandra Theatre, also owned by Mirvish Productions and is across from Roy Thomson Hall which houses the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Toronto Mendelssohn Choir.

The project faces a lengthy approvals process before construction. At time of writing, The Stage could not reach Mirvish for comment.