Over the next two years, the Dalhousie Arts Centre is undergoing a major expansion and renewal of existing spaces. With construction now underway, the addition to the Arts Centre will add more than 42,000 square feet of new space for the performing arts at Dalhousie.
“We are so excited to have this new space, not just for our students but also for our community partners,” says Jacqueline Warwick, director of the Fountain School of Performing Arts. “The Arts Centre is such a hub for arts in the city and the region, and this expansion project will help us serve our community even more in the future.”
Setting the stage
On Wednesday (Nov. 20), Dalhousie welcomed students, staff, faculty and members of the public to a gallery walk and information session at the Arts Centre. Renderings of the new spaces were on display, and project managers were onsite to answer any questions.
Set for completion in fall of 2021, the project includes a major addition to the Arts Centre, which will provide students and patrons with a new 300 seat-concert hall, 2 rehearsal rooms, 10 practice/teaching studios, and a new home for the Costume Studies program – fit with innovative studios, fitting rooms, and laundry facilities.
The existing Arts Centre will undergo some renovations as well, including new air handling units and ventilation.
The Dalhousie Performing Arts Campaign has been working to secure funding for the project with initiatives like the Fill the House campaign. Fill the House provides donors with the opportunity to name a chair in the new, 300-seat Joseph Strug Concert Hall.
Learn more: If you’d like to fill a seat in new concert hall, visit the Fill the House website
Construction begins
Excavation of the site is now underway, and all stakeholders have been contacted about potential disruptions. Contractors will be blasting and rock-breaking until March 2020 to prepare the site for construction.
For regular updates on construction and street closures please visit dal.ca/ArtsExpansion