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

  • Phoenix School District Breaks Ground on New Prep Academy

    The Creighton Elementary School District near Phoenix, Ariz., recently broke ground on a campus replacement for Biltmore Preparatory Academy, according to a news release. The new space will allow the school to expand its enrollment by 50 percent for K–8 students and accommodate modern, collaborative learning styles.

  • S4L Announces 2026 Education Design Showcase Winners

    Spaces4Learning is thrilled to announce the winners of the 2026 Education Design Showcase! Now in its 27th year, the annual awards program honors innovative solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction across K–12 and higher education.

  • Arizona District Breaks Ground on Community Training, Learning Center

    The Tolleson Union High School District (TUHSD) in Tolleson, Ariz., recently broke ground on a new Training & Learning Center (TLC) for both district professionals and the community at large, according to a news release. The 90,000-square-foot facility has an estimated completion date of spring 2027.

  • Architectural Power for the Modern Campus Landscape

    For generations, an outdoor classroom only required a textbook and a patch of grass. Today, not only has the laptop replaced the printed pages, the rise of agile learning has turned campuses into study halls with students listening to lectures and researching topics from quads, gardens, and plazas. The challenge for architects and facility managers is to provide connectivity without cluttering the landscape with visual eyesores or creating safety hazards with extension cords.