Winspear expansion in final push for fundraising and construction

Article content

As the Winspear expansion project eyes completion in 2026, the organization has asked the public for one last fundraising push for $12 million to get the project over the line.

“When we think about the expansion project and the completion, it’s about making sure that the doors are open more, and for more people,” said board chairman of the Francis Winspear Centre, Sam Jenkins.

Article content

The Winspear expansion project is set to add 50,000 square feet of new music space to Edmonton’s performing arts scene, comprised of a new performance venue, classrooms, studios, and collaborative spaces. The crown jewel of the expansion is the Music Box, which the organization said will be a new state-of-the-art, 550-person performance venue. Coming in at more than $110 million, the project was initially estimated to be just over $50 million, but when building a hub for the city’s music scene during a pandemic, above an LRT line, and alongside a local energy project, it’s tough to cut costs.

“Would we have liked the budget to have not had to increase? Yeah, absolutely,” said Jenkins.

He explained building this modern space to accommodate the expansive intent was no small task, which in turn meant no small price tag.

The expansion is intended to grow the renowned performance centre from a singular event space into Edmonton’s music centre. From the start, and true to the Winspear’s origins, the organization knew that it would spare no expense to ensure the Music Box was technically and acoustically impeccable from the moment it opened and for decades to come.

Article content

Article content

“It sits within an incredible amount of technology to be able to ensure that sound and experience is optimized, while at the same time, we have an LRT running beside it and underneath it, we have a district energy plant operating 25 feet to one side of it, as well as a city In motion all around it.”

Article content

With the LRT Valley and Capital lines intersecting nearby, the construction has also included a district energy project, which, once complete, will provide energy for several buildings in the area, including the Winspear. While some costs for the building of the expansion and the energy project were shared, it also added more variables for the Winspear to consider, including sound.

Like the existing recital hall, the Music Box had to be what Jenkins referred to as a “box within a box,” which meant working with the best acousticians and sound engineers from around the world to ensure the experience inside the venue is unimpeded by its surroundings. The space also includes adaptive seating that can be hauled out to accommodate a larger audience, or stored for greater performance space.

Article content

If the technical specs hadn’t added enough hurdles, the organization also contended with the COVID-19 pandemic, which ramped up the cost of construction.

Downtown Business Association CEO Puneeta McBryan said no one has been immune to the exploding costs of construction.

“I think anyone who’s tried to build anything from a house to any kind of commercial building would say that they’ve seen the same kind of cost overruns, and certainly we’ve seen it happen with big infrastructure projects like trains,” said McBryan.

While the pandemic caused a jump in construction costs, Jenkins explained that it also gave the organization a chance to reconsider its business model and role in the city’s music scene. With its new classrooms and studios, the organization intends to expand its programming to be more accessible for Edmonton musicians, which Edmonton Arts Council interim executive director Shirley Combden praised.

“It’s going to create more ways for Edmonton arts and music scene to connect with each other and with local audiences,” said Combden.

“Just having the space open longer, it’s going to be open to the public on a regular basis, which is a huge benefit to all artists and musicians.”

Article content

Comden and McBryan also acknowledge the gap the Music Box is expected to fill for performing artists, saying the space is a “missing middle,” that will help Edmonton artists progress.

McBryan also discussed the value of the space in revitalizing downtown — specifically, the symbolism of the investment that has gone into the project.

“No one wants to be alone, making big investments,” said McBryan.

“Seeing this kind of investment from the arts community and from government, I think, is a really big signal of economic confidence and just positive activity that hopefully will attract more residential development and everything else we need.”

The project has attracted roughly $13 million from the city, more than $18 million from the federal government, more than $28 million in funding from the province and more than $10 million in private donations.

The Winspear group requested that the city help with the final financial push, which Ward O-day’min Coun. Anne Stevenson said they’re considering. Given the infrastructure improvements included in the project, Stevenson passed a motion to ask city staff to analyze whether the remaining funding could be added into the Community Revitalization Levy as a catalyst project.

Article content

“That’s a really natural fit for some of the green and walkable funding. I think there’s a strong case to be made that the facility as a whole is a major contribution. So that’s something that we’re actively pursuing,” said Stevenson.

“It’s a place that’s for big events and small moments, too. I think it is a really great way to add to the neighbourhood.”

[email protected]

Article content