Burnaby City Council Approves Contract for Redevelopment of James Cowan Theatre and Studios Wing
Burnaby City Council has greenlit a contract to overhaul the James Cowan Theatre at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, replacing it with an innovative new theatre and specialized program space capable of hosting a wide range of events and activities.
Source: City of Burnaby
“This presents a fantastic opportunity to modernize the James Cowan Theatre, ensuring its continued significance within the dynamic arts, cultural, and community landscape of the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts,”remarked Mayor Mike Hurley.
Originally built as a gymnasium in the 1940s, the current theatre was repurposed in 1995. However, it has long exceeded its lifespan, lacking wheelchair accessibility, seismic compliance, and requiring substantial upgrades.
The redevelopment initiative will establish a new 38,000 square-foot (3,500 square meters) theatre and studio wing on the existing James Cowan Theatre site.
Notable features will include:
– A 364-seat theatre with retractable seating adaptable to a spacious reception/atrium hall
– State-of-the-art stage, lighting, and audio facilities
– Three versatile classroom studios for visual arts, multi-use purposes, and theatre/literary arts
– A reception/atrium hall
– Gender-neutral and universally accessible washroom facilities
– Encores Café and bar
– Enhanced accessibility and entrance positioning
The facility will offer adaptability, boasting a theatre with flexible floor plans and studios that can be configured for various uses. These may encompass multimedia exhibitions, traditional and contemporary theatre productions, cultural showcases, large-scale events, trade shows, and conferences.
Throughout the construction phase, the Shadbolt Centre will remain accessible to the public.
The project is estimated to cost $55 million, with construction slated to commence in 2024 and the new facility anticipated to open its doors in 2027.
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