Arts Commons | 18m | 4s | City of Calgary | KPMB
- Thread starter Surrealplaces
- Start date
UrbanWarrior
Senior Member
Core starting to rise. Sorry for the potato pic.
CalgaryTiger
Senior Member
From CMLC 2026 Business Plan.
"We expect to reveal the design for the modernization in 2026 as the Werklund Centre team works to secure the remaining funds required to initiate construction."
So, we should see the vision for the existing Arts Commons, not sure when it becomes Werklund Centre (should be Werklund Commons)?
"We expect to reveal the design for the modernization in 2026 as the Werklund Centre team works to secure the remaining funds required to initiate construction."
So, we should see the vision for the existing Arts Commons, not sure when it becomes Werklund Centre (should be Werklund Commons)?
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trtcttc
Senior Member
The whole complex was renamed Werklund Centre after a $75M gift, but it was bundled with the new building announcement, making it seem like the new building is the Werklund Centre. But the new building is actually called the Osten-Victor Playhouse (the background on these guys are pretty interesting) after a $12M gift. It's sad we lost another name to "Centre" but at least it's not the Werklund Centre of the Arts, right beside the JR Shaw Centre for Arts and Culture.
Roaring Flames
Senior Member
Osten-Victor Playhouse is the name of the larger of the two theatres in the new complex. Not the complex itself
CalgaryTiger
Senior Member
It is so funny to me that even people who pay attention everyday are confused.
whatchyyc
Active Member
From a city slide deck:
trtcttc
Senior Member
Cost, funding concerns rise for Werklund Centre and Olympic Plaza projects - LiveWire Calgary
Expansion of the Werklund Centre (formerly Arts Commons) and Olympic Plaza’s transformation is well underway, however, the modernization project awaits full funding before moving ahead. Councillors and public members of the Arts Commons Advisory Committee members also heard at the Jan. 28...
livewirecalgary.com
Can't even tell from their ask what is the funding gap... Is it just the federal/city funds are committed but not really?
whatchyyc
Active Member
$74.5M out of an anticipated $270MCost, funding concerns rise for Werklund Centre and Olympic Plaza projects - LiveWire Calgary
Expansion of the Werklund Centre (formerly Arts Commons) and Olympic Plaza’s transformation is well underway, however, the modernization project awaits full funding before moving ahead. Councillors and public members of the Arts Commons Advisory Committee members also heard at the Jan. 28...
Can't even tell from their ask what is the funding gap... Is it just the federal/city funds are committed but not really?
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whatchyyc
Active Member
Olympic Plaza and the expansion are fully funded, it's 74 out of 270 just for the modernization of the existing building. That city page just hasn't been updated for whatever reason but the rest of the money came from the GoA and the Werklund family.
Roaring Flames
Senior Member
Ah, my mistake. I missed the text at the bottom
trtcttc
Senior Member
Is it just me or is this project really expensive. For comparison, the Fredricton performing arts centre (similar in scope, a bit smaller) also under construction right now is $111 Million, after cost escalations after previous estimates were $45M. The Kamloops Performing Arts Centre that broke ground last year is $211M and is slightly bigger at 1,100 and 450 theatres. The Rocky Ridge YMCA (pre-pandemic of course) was $191M, the MNP expansion ongoing now is $87M. I feel like there's better things to spend $660M.
www.fredericton.ca
Fredericton's New Performing Arts Centre | City of Fredericton
www.fredericton.ca
ethan.l.cecc
Active Member
1. the $660M is the new building, new Olympic Plaza AND the revitalization of the existing complex. 2. The Kamloops project is pretty similar in cost to the new building's cost, especially given this is a higher profile, fancier building.Is it just me or is this project really expensive. For comparison, the Fredricton performing arts centre (similar in scope, a bit smaller) also under construction right now is $111 Million, after cost escalations after previous estimates were $45M. The Kamloops Performing Arts Centre that broke ground last year is $211M and is slightly bigger at 1,100 and 450 theatres. The Rocky Ridge YMCA (pre-pandemic of course) was $191M, the MNP expansion ongoing now is $87M. I feel like there's better things to spend $660M.
Fredericton's New Performing Arts Centre | City of Fredericton
The revitalization of the existing complex, I can't say if the cost is comparable to any of those, but I think the $660M price tag for the whole project is about what would be expected.
Colinfill
Active Member
Didn't realize that the design for the modernization is already complete. Did KPMB design the modernization of the existing building as well?