Toronto’s legendary comedy venue The Second City will be settling into its new home at One York by the end of next year, bringing a piece of history to a young and modern complex near the waterfront.

The company plans to build out multiple comedy theatres for live performance across the 28,700-square-foot space on the third-floor retail podium, with a games-driven bar and restaurant. This will also be home to the Toronto branch of its improvisation-based arts school, which has outposts in Hollywood and Chicago, where it first opened in 1959.

The Toronto location opened its doors in the mid-1970s and is currently at 51 Mercer Street in the Entertainment District.

“The Second City is excited to break ground on three new state-of-the-art theatres, as well as provide increased classroom space for our ever-growing Second City Training Centre, which serves thousands of students of all ages every year,” said D’Arcy Stuart, chief operating officer of The Second City. “This is also a prime opportunity for us to add dynamic multi-use spaces to accommodate groups, meetings, celebrations, and events of all sizes. We are excited to be part of the Menkes vision for the South Core.”

One York is a two million-square-foot complex near Union Station, owned by The Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP) Realty Inc. and developed by Menkes. It includes a 35-story Class AAA office tower, two 70- and 66-storey condominium towers known as Harbour Plaza Residences, a four-story retail podium with 170,000 square feet of commercial retail space, and a four-level underground parking garage.

“The Second City will be the perfect addition to this mixed-use complex, adding entertainment to our exceptional list of retail tenants, and further solidifying One York Street’s position as the ultimate, live, work, play environment,” added Peter Menkes, president commercial/industrial.