Fredericton’s New Performing Arts Centre Approved for Budget Increase and Final Designs
FREDERICTON – At its regular meeting earlier this month, Fredericton City Council approved a budget of $81.7 million for Fredericton’s new Performing Arts Centre. Along with this, Gary McCluskie presented the final design of the ambitious new building.
In March of 2023, those planning the new Performing Arts Centre held an open house event that allowed the community of Fredericton to place their input on the designs of the new Performing Arts Centre.
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In his presentation to the City Council, McCluskie says these contributions from the public were put well into consideration and that they now have their final design made up.
The new Performing Arts Centre will have five different levels found within. The lower level will be only an orchestra pit, accessible by elevator.
“This was this really great discovery we found that through efficient planning we could create all of the program requirements we needed at ground floor level, and thus not be required to build a very expensive below-grade structure,” says McCluskie at the City Council meeting.
The ground floor will be home to many things such as the box office, the lobby, main hall, and much more. The second level will be home to the main hall mezzanine, a second concession stand that will also be on the ground floor, a studio theatre, and again much more.
On the third level, McCluskie says that there will be a gallery to the studio theatre, as well as administrative offices. The fourth and final level will be home to closed mechanical equipment as well as catwalks for workers.
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Following the presentation of the final design, Sara DeGrace, edputy chief administrative officer, discussed the next steps for the new Performing Arts Centre. After having been approved for the budget of $81.7 million, the team will now move their attention directly towards the construction documents.
DeGrace says that from there, they will then move into preparing the construction site in late fall 2023, before the snow falls. They will then move to tendering over the winter of 2023/24.
Once this is completed, they then plan to begin construction in 2024.
“Throughout these steps, staff will continue to explore additional funding with the aim of minimizing borrowing,” DeGrace stated.
Ryley Roach is a Huddle student intern, based in Fredericton. Send her your feedback and story ideas: [email protected]