After three years of meticulous planning and design, The Arts Commons Transformation (ACT) expansion broke ground, marking a significant step forward in the delivery of the largest arts-focused infrastructure project currently underway in Canada.
The ACT expansion is the first phase in the campus transformation, and will see the development of a new three-level building with 170,000 square feet of modern features and amenities, including a new 1,000-seat theatre and 200-seat studio theatre, boosting Arts Commons’ seating capacity by 45 per cent.
Construction on the ACT expansion, designed by KPMB Architects, Hindle Architects and Tawaw Architecture Collective, will begin in January 2025. Construction will be managed by EllisDon with project management by Colliers Project Leaders, and is expected to be completed in 2028.
The project is being delivered in partnership by development manager Calgary Municipal Land Corporation, Arts Commons and The City of Calgary.
The other two phases include the Olympic Plaza Transformation (OPT) project – which is now fully funded – and the ACT modernization, for which efforts are underway to secure the remaining required funds.
Design is underway for the Olympic Plaza Transformation (OPT) project, which will create a more modern, inclusive and accessible arts-focused outdoor gathering space as part of the contiguous Arts Commons campus upon its completion in 2028. The design for the Olympic Plaza Transformation project will be revealed in late Q1 2025.
The Arts Commons and Olympic Plaza Transformation projects are a $660M investment in Calgary’s arts community, expanding and modernizing the Arts Commons campus and supporting The City of Calgary’s downtown revitalization efforts.
“Investing in our world-class performing arts centre will create a beacon for Calgary’s downtown and encourage further private sector investment in our city’s core,” said Mayor Jyoti Gondek. “This is the kind of project that shows the world how exceptional Calgary-made architecture and cultural experiences have become through collaborations like this one between CMLC, Arts Commons and The City of Calgary.”
