Performing Arts Burlington | Burlington Performing Arts Centre | Music, Drama, Dance, Theatre: What's On In Burlington: Council, City, Stage, Building, Centre, Capital Campaign, Audience, Performers

Construction activity is well underway on the site of the future Burlington Performing Arts Centre at the corner of Elgin and Locust streets in downtown Burlington. In May the construction crew began excavating and pouring the concrete foundation for the new building. In the coming weeks work will continue on the construction of the footings and foundation.

In addition to the onsite construction activities, Burlington Hydro continues to work on the burial of the hydro lines along Elgin Street between Locust Street and Burlington Avenue. This is the second phase of the burial work; this phase of the work should be completed by July 2009, with the remainder of the burial work taking place early in 2010.

The Burlington Performing Arts Centre is expected to open in 2011. The final design of the centre is the product of extensive public consultations that took place over the course of 2008. When completed it will be an excellent venue for productions, receptions, exhibitions, community functions and civic events. A LEED-certified building (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), it is destined to be Ontario’s first stand-alone green performing arts centre. The Burlington Performing Arts Centre is expected to generate economic spin-offs including new tourism and convention opportunities, the creation of new jobs and the continued pedestrian- friendly environment downtown.

The City of Burlington is inviting everyone to the groundbreaking cermony, on March 27th at 3pm at Civic Square. With cake, refreshments and performance by Sarah Harmer and others. Click here to print of your ticket!

Construction will begin on the new Burlington Performing Arts Centre, the city’s largest ever capital construction project, in March after Burlington City Council awarded the construction tender to Bird Construction Co. of Toronto for $26.8 million on Feb. 23.

“The time is right to start construction on the Burlington Performing Arts Centre, creating jobs in the community and providing a much-needed facility where families can enjoy community events and professional entertainment,” said Mayor Cam Jackson. “The Burlington Performing Arts Centre will become the cultural centre piece that will demonstrate our commitment to building a truly remarkable, inclusive and complete community on beautiful Lake Ontario. It will be both an economic asset to our dynamic downtown and a cultural space for citizens of all ages to enjoy.”

The centre is being designed by Diamond + Schmitt Architects Inc. and will feature a 730-seat main stage theatre, a 225-seat studio theatre, atrium space and an event patio. It will also include a six-storey fly tower allowing Burlington to host a wide variety of productions. In spring 2009, city staff will be presenting the city’s Community Development Committee with a proposed design and budget for a publicly-accessible, pedestrian bridge that will link the Burlington Performing Arts Centre with the neighbouring parking garage, located at 414 Locust St.

During the first quarter of 2009 the Burlington Performing Arts Centre project is set to experience another significant milestone. Towards the end of January the City of Burlington will open the tenders that have been received for this project. The tenders are the bids that the city receives from general contractors seeking to be hired to begin the construction of the Burlington Performing Arts Centre.

Following the opening of the tenders, staff will be preparing a report to council recommending the preferred tender. This report is scheduled to go forward to the Community Development Committee on February 9, 2009 and then on to City Council on February 23, 2009.

In the meantime, Hydro construction activity continues on the future site of the centre. Burlington Hydro is working to bury the hydro lines that run along Elgin Street from Locust Street to Burlington Avenue. This construction activity is expected to last into February 2009.

As we begin 2009 the Burlington Performing Arts Centre Fundraising Cabinet is also hard at work working towards its fundraising goal of $11 million. Recently the fundraising cabinet received a $10,000 donation from Theatre Burlington, who has joined a long list of Burlington organizations, corporations, and individuals who have made a donation to the project.

For inquires about the project or to make a donation please contact the City of Burlington at 905-335-7600 ext. 7484 or e-mail bpac@burlington.ca.

The Burlington Performing Arts Centre is expected to open in 2011. When completed it will be an excellent venue for productions, receptions, exhibitions, community functions and civic events. The centre is being designed by Diamond + Schmitt Architects Inc. and will feature a 718-seat main stage theatre, a 225-seat studio theatre, atrium space and an event patio. It will also include a six-storey fly tower allowing Burlington to host a wide variety of productions.

The city is now working out the final design details for the Burlington Performing Arts Centre project as it prepares to move into the construction phase. On October 20, 2008 Burlington City Council approved a plan that ensures sufficient funding is in place to commence construction. The city remains committed to securing the outstanding provincial funding. The city has finished 90 per cent of the blueprints and design details.

The city’s project management team has been hard at work to ensure the Burlington Performing Arts Centre will be a broadcast-capable facility. This will have tremendous benefits to the centre including the enhanced ability to record performances and events as well as the ability for live television broadcasts and teleconferencing.

The city is also continuing cost reduction strategy to ensure that the Burlington Performing Arts Centre remains on budget and has secured a final list of six pre-qualified General Contractors. The city will confirm site plan requirements and secure a building permit prior to tender.

It is expected that a construction tender for the project will be awarded in early 2009 with construction starting in February 2009.

Questions?

If you have any questions or comments on the Burlington Performing Arts Centre, please contact Craig Stevens, senior project co-ordinator, by e-mail at stevensc@burlington.ca or by phone at 905-335-7600 ext. 7471.

The City of Burlington's Performing Arts Centre update page can be reached here. Anyone wishing to donate to the BPAC can click here.

City begins demolition of former police station: building Burlington's future

The city has entered the newest phase in the construction of the Burlington Performing Arts Centre with the start of the demolition of the former police station on the corner of Elgin and Locust streets in downtown Burlington.

“With the old building removed the stage will be set for us to begin preparations for the start of construction, that could begin as early as January 2009,” said Mayor Cam Jackson. “The new environmentally friendly and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEEDS) certified Burlington Performing Arts Centre will be a tremendous addition to the active life of our community.”

The new Burlington Performing Arts Centre is destined to be Canada’s first stand-alone green performing arts centre. It is anticipated that a construction firm will be contracted in later 2008.

The demolition is being carried out by Murray Demolition, which donated its services to the Burlington Performing Arts Centre project. This demolition event also marks the re-energizing of the Burlington Performing Arts Fundraising Cabinet’s Community Fundraising Campaign. For more information on the fundraising campaign, please visit www.burlingtonpac.ca.

Click here to view a PDF with detailed information on the project and the vision of the Burlington Performing Arts Centre project. Progress continues on the Burlington Performing Arts Centre. Since the last update a number of significant milestones have been reached, as the project continues to evolve to meet community needs and expectations.

In March, the Burlington Performing Arts Centre received council approval to proceed with the detailed design. This phase of the project is when the architects and design teams will create the architectural look and feel of the new centre. During this phase, the design has evolved as the architects and project team continue to make improvements to the centre as a result of recommendations and feedback from City Council, members of Burlington’s performing arts community, the general public and neighbours.

Recent improvements to the centre include a rotated studio theatre at Locust Street, which creates a wonderful new lobby presence on Locust Street, a new marshalling and multipurpose area and increased corridor width in the back of the house to accommodate easier movement of people and materials during performances.

The rotation of the studio theatre has allowed for a better-positioned and enhanced main lobby and outdoor plaza area. These features will allow this facility to be more than just a performing arts centre but also a much-needed community gathering space capable of hosting corporate and community events.

The Burlington Accessibility Advisory Committee is currently reviewing plans for the centre. This review will help the architects and design team identify and correct barriers to accessibility. By listening to and addressing the concerns of the performing arts community and the Burlington Accessibility Advisory Committee early in the design process, the project team will be able to ensure that the new Burlington Performing Arts Centre will be a theatre that is accessible and serves the needs of the entire Burlington community.

Questions?

Burlington, Ontario, March 17, 2008 - Mike Wallace, Member of Parliament for Burlington, on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport,
Infrastructure and Communities, today announced that the Government of Canada will consider the construction of a performing arts centre in Burlington as a priority for funding under the Building Canada infrastructure plan. MP Wallace was joined by Cam Jackson, Mayor of Burlington, for the announcement.

The contribution from Building Canada would be up to one-third of total eligible costs, to a maximum of $1.5 million.The multi-purpose facility will include a main theatre to accommodate theatrical and musical productions, a studio theatre to be used for community presentations, and a lobby that would serve as a venue for receptions, exhibitions, corporate functions and civic events.

"The Government of Canada is investing in cultural infrastructure projects that help generate economic growth and attract skilled workers and tourists," said MP Wallace. "A performing arts centre in Burlington will be an engaging venue for people from the community and surrounding areas to participate in artistic and cultural activities."

"Mike Wallace has worked tirelessly to make our Performing Arts Centre a reality," said Mayor Jackson. "We appreciate all his efforts to secure our full federal funding request. This is really good news! We look forward to a positive matching provincial announcement in the next few weeks."

Federal financial support for the construction of the performing arts centre is conditional on the initiative meeting all applicable federal eligibility requirements under the Building Canada infrastructure plan, including full due diligence, successful completion of an environment assessment, and successful negotiation of a Framework Agreement with the Province of Ontario, as well as confirmation of the balance of funding for the project.

Through its unprecedented $33-billion Building Canada infrastructure plan, the Government of Canada is providing long-term, stable and predictable funding to help meet infrastructure needs across Canada. Building Canada is supporting a stronger, safer and better country.

For further information contact:
Karine White
Press Secretary , Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
613-991-0700

On February 19, 2008 the city’s Community and Corporate Services Committee will review and select a preferred design option for the Burlington Performing Arts Centre. The design options being presented to committee are available on the City of Burlington website as well as on display in City Hall and at Tansley Woods Community Centre.

On October 1, Burlington City Council approved award-winning architect Diamond + Schmitt, known for Toronto’s Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, as designer of the new Burlington Performing Arts Centre. To read the architect's report, click here.

Burlington Performing Arts Centre (BPAC) Campaign website is now live. The site contains a message from the mayor, details about the facility and information on the founding families lobby. As well, patrons can make a donation to the campaign, remember every dollar counts! Visit the website by going to www.burlingtonpac.ca

Burlington Performing Arts Centre Update: April 2007

Designed for shows presented by our local arts groups, as well as to accommodate performers from across Canada and around the world, the Burlington Performing Arts Centre (BPAC) will truly be a theatre for everyone!

The BPAC will be located in the heart of Burlington’s downtown at the corner of Locust and Elgin, just behind City Hall, and a stone’s throw from Spencer Smith Park on the lake.

The site is ideal, since it is close to Burlington downtown’s many fabulous restaurants, other cultural attractions and the waterfront. With a parking garage next door, and its accessibility by both transit and car, the location offers many benefits to audiences.

Conceptual design for the building has been completed, and City Staff are in the process of selecting a detailed design architect, who will base the final building plans on the existing concepts. The building will contain two theatres: the Main Stage Theatre, with its full fly tower, is expected to have about 718 seats, and the multi-purpose Studio Theatre will seat about 250 on fully-retractable seats. With these two options, there are endless possibilities for the kinds of performances we will be able to see at the BPAC.

The Campaign for the Burlington Performing Arts Centre, co-chaired by Keith Strong and Gary DeGroote, has seen great success to date. We are fast approaching the $9 million mark, which puts us well on the way towards the $10 million target set for the community-based fundraising. Additionally, we are hoping to see a total of $8 million from senior levels of government, and the final $10 million is a commitment from the City of Burlington.

Campaign donors receive a number of special benefits, and we welcome donations of all sizes.

The Have a Seat program allows donors of $1500 to name a seat in honour of himself or herself, or as a tribute to a person or group. And, seat sponsorships last for at least fifteen years!

There are a number of donor levels, each of which has a number of benefits associated with that giving level. And, for donors considering contributions of more than $99,999, donors have the opportunity for long-term name recognition on spaces, such as boxes, in the building.

For more information, and to donate to the Campaign for the Burlington Performing Arts Centre, please contact Craig Stevens, senior project co-ordinator, by email stevensc@burlington.ca at 905-335-7600, extension 7471.

Burlington on Stage! The new performing arts centre will be in the heart of Burlington’s downtown at the corner of Locust and Elgin, just behind City Hall, and a stone’s throw from Spencer Smith Park on the lake.

In October of 2005 , City Council approved this location as the preferred site for the new centre, subject to successful negotiations for the purchase of the property. This property has been declared surplus by the Region of Halton because the Burlington Police Station which is now on the site is moving to a new location at 3700 Southampton Boulevard north of the QEW.

The preferred location of the new centre was determined by a detailed site evaluation process. This location is close to the dining and entertainment district, other cultural attractions, the waterfront, a parking garage next door, and is easily accessible by transit and car. Conceptual designs have indicated that a functional and attractive centre can be built on that site within existing zoning regulations.

City Council has also instructed City staff to consult with the public to make the public aware of the proposed building on this site as well as to obtain comments about the urban design and site plan.

The entire performing arts community should be excited that our dream and vision of a new centre moves closer. The hard work of fundraising is the next step. The City will expect that at least $8 million of the total $22 budget is raised from the community. The city is putting together a Fundraising Cabinet to lead a public fundraising campaign in 2006. On October 6, Mayor MacIsaac announced that the Co-Chairs of this fundraising team will be two long time Burlington residents and businessmen, Keith Strong and Gary DeGroote.

The City’s fundraising team will expect that the performing arts community to do its share in raising funds for the new centre. PAB encourages performing arts groups, performers, all our audience and supporters to think of ways in which we can all participate in raising the required funds. Watch for further information. Ideas and questions for fundraising by the performing arts community should be directed to Walter Mulkewich at 905-529-2564 or wmulkewich@cogeco.ca

The fundraising campaign will be led by the City, not PAB. PAB encourages our members to be supportive. Our organization will continue to focus on the capacity building goals of PAB to strengthen our performing arts community so we will all be ready when the new centre opens.

Media Contact:
Leo DeLoyde
General Manager of Development & Infrastructure
Tel. 905-335-7883
Email deloydel@burlington.ca

Donor Contact:

Craig Stevens

Senior Project Co-ordinator

Tel. 905-335-7600 ext 7471

Fax. 905-632-9082

Email stevensc@burlington.ca