Construction has begun on two performing arts facility projects in St. Catharines, Ontario.
Designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects, the pair of adjacent buildings in the city’s downtown area include the new Downtown Performing Arts Centre and a renovated structure housing Brock University’s Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts.
The 8361-m2 (90,000-sf) Performing Arts Centre will consist of four venues for theatre, music, dance, and film with a 775-seat concert hall, 160-seat theatre, 300-seat recital hall, and 200-seat film theatre. Located in the city’s core, the centre will be a major component of the downtown rejuvenation.
Secondly, the historic five-storey Canada Hair Cloth building was acquired by Brock University and will be redeveloped into the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts. This will add 3251-m2 (35,000 sf) of classroom, studios, and office space, as well as a 280-seat flexible studio theatre.
Construction on both projects is expected to be completed in 2015.
