Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

University of Manitoba Begins Concert Hall Construction

  • By Matt Jones
  • 09/30/21

The University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada, recently announced that construction has begun on a new performance venue. The Desautels Concert Hall is the last stage of the multi-year Taché Arts Project, a modernization effort meant to unite the school’s art, music and theater programs in one facility. The 409-seat venue will serve not just the university but the Winnipeg community, as well. The $24-million facility is scheduled to open its doors to the public by fall 2023.

“I am excited about this new space, which will be unlike any other in Winnipeg,” said Michael Benarroch, president and Vice-Chancellor at UM. “It will enable opportunities for new performances to move and inspire us, fostering connections between communities in ways only performance pieces allow.”

The space’s design is set to maximize both acoustics and sightlines. One notable feature is that the venue will be configurable in three different ways: a large stage for orchestra groups, a small stage for smaller ensembles and voice recitals, and a proscenium for theater and dance performances. It will also include new, well-lit rehearsal spaces. The space was designed by Cibinel Architecture.

“With state-of-the-art acoustics, adjustable proscenium and orchestral pit, the concert hall will provide an outstanding performance experience for our students, faculty and community musicians,” said Edward Jurkowski, Dean of the Desautels Faculty of Music. “It is flexible enough to accommodate a range of musical activities, from the solo performer, to our various small ensembles, to large ensembles such as our opera productions and University of Manitoba Jazz Orchestra. The concert hall will be not just an important feature of the Desautels Faculty of Music and the University of Manitoba, but also a vital contribution to Winnipeg’s musical life.”

Funding for the project has come primarily through private donations, including a $10-million gift from Marcel Desautels, $2.5 million from Dr. Michael F. B. Nesbitt, $2.5 million from Gail Asper and many others. Fundraising is still ongoing through the “Your Seat Awaits” campaign.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Kimball International Releases Curated Design Support Program

    Commercial furnishings company Kimball International recently announced the launch of a new end-to-end design support program, DesignSuite. According to a news release, its goal is to guide architecture & design professionals and dealer partners through the process from vision to specification.

  • Washington State District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

    Cheney School District No. 360 in Spokane County, Wash., recently announced that construction has begun on a new elementary school, according to local news. The district held a groundbreaking ceremony on May 18 in Airway Heights for the yet-to-be-named school, which is scheduled to open in fall 2027.

  • Quattrocchi Kwok Architects Opens New Office in Denver

    Education planning and design firm Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) recently announced that it has opened a new office in Denver, Colo., the firm’s third overall. QKA is headquartered in Santa Rosa, Calif., and runs an East Bay Area office in Oakland.

  • Image courtesy of Kahler Slater

    UW–Madison Announces Completion of Morgridge Hall

    The University of Wisconsin–Madison recently announced that construction is complete on Morgridge Hall, a new academic building, according to a news release. The facility opened September 3 at the start of the fall semester, consolidating the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences into a single facility for the first time.