Winnipeg | Exchange District | Pantages Playhouse Theatre | Restoration | Proposed - Page 2

Malcsta · #21 Posted **Jun 11, 2025, 1:47 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by FactaNV

Looks nice. Is that tower proposal dead TV?

What tower proposal..............

cllew · #22 Posted **Jun 11, 2025, 2:05 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malcsta

What tower proposal..............

A company called Futuremark had plans for a "transformative development" adjacent to Pantages.

In 2020 Futuremark's owner Alex Boersma said after selling the Pantages to the Performing Arts Consortium for 1 dollar that his consultants were comfortable that his company could do what he wanted to put in there.

Since 2020 there has been no more information on his project that I could find on line. The Futuremark web page for this project is looking for partners to develop the site.

1ajs · #23 Posted **Jun 11, 2025, 3:09 AM**

hopefuully most of that money is going into the theater building its self it needs allot of love specialy the vantalation danced on that stge many times and sang in chior

also someone should transplant the cornace tree in the plazza

trueviking · #24 Posted **Jun 11, 2025, 4:20 AM**

The acoustics are the biggest and most challenging part. A theatre is not a concert hall. We have acousticians from Chicago who are amazing at analyzing it. It’s all physics. So fascinating. They have animations of the space with little balls replicating sound coming from the stage and bouncing around. They can show how every intervention changes it, shell, reflectors, materials etc.

Not sure what is happening with the residential on the plaza in front.

The streetcar will stay no matter what.

The 90’s addition will be completely redeveloped. You can see in the renderings that the front corner will be opened up by removing the washrooms and making the curved glass wall straight. New entrance. The goal is to make it more open from the outside so the activity inside is more visible from the street. The historic lobby will become a bar and stand up lounge. In the atrium space itself we are adding an elevator and feature stair that wraps around a bar. Can see that in the rendering. Second floor will have another lounge and rooftop patio. Other rendering. Second floor will also have the WSO offices. Back of house including dressing rooms will be completely redeveloped. They are pretty crappy.

They will likely still play at the concert hall for certain bigger shows but this gives them control of their own space. Currently they get punted if there’s another act. They can’t rehearse in the venue. Theres also a lack of intimacy. The concert hall has terrible acoustics as was mentioned. They actually use speakers now to artificially enhance the sound. That draped ceiling that looks acoustic is actually acoustically transparent and there’s a giant volume above it. WSO will be the last symphony in Canada to move out of their centennial halls.

The Jabroni · #25 Posted **Jun 11, 2025, 4:47 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by cllew

The Concert Hall was suppose to have been the best music space in North America when it opened. They had a major US based acoustic engineering firm Bolt, Beranek & Newman Inc do the design work.

In 2016 there were problems with the acoustic shell wall actuation system (if the shell is moved it could crash down), and it has not been in use since. In 2019 the Provincial Govt paid for a temporary acoustic treatment but the symphony is not happy with the resulting sound.

That is unfortunate. Since then, the acoustics inside the concert hall wasn't to the standards or at least what the WSO was used to since those changes.

I assume that if they want to fully mitigate the issue, it would be a very expensive undertaking and would have to shut down the Concert Hall for quite some time, no?

ColdRain&Snow · #26 Posted **Mar 20, 2026, 3:08 AM**

Sooooooo anything happening with the Pantages Playhouse Theater redevelopment? Seems like that building has been sitting vacant for awhile now. Lot's of fancy renderings but no movement on-site.

Wpg_Guy · #27 Posted **Mar 20, 2026, 5:31 AM**

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Originally Posted by ColdRain&Snow

Sooooooo anything happening with the Pantages Playhouse Theater redevelopment? Seems like that building has been sitting vacant for awhile now. Lot's of fancy renderings but no movement on-site.

Still in the fund raising phase, they need a lot of $$ to realize their full vision.

Sheepish · #28 Posted **Apr 9, 2026, 1:49 PM**

Heard on CBC this morning that the WSO is moving forward with plans to convert the Pantages. Positive news.

pspeid · #29 Posted **Apr 9, 2026, 2:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheepish

Heard on CBC this morning that the WSO is moving forward with plans to convert the Pantages. Positive news.

Nice! Thanks Sheep!

Sheepish · #30 Posted **Apr 9, 2026, 2:42 PM**

If only there were someone who contributes to this site who has more knowledge to share...hmmm,

Wpg_Guy · #31 Posted **Apr 9, 2026, 4:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheepish

Heard on CBC this morning that the WSO is moving forward with plans to convert the Pantages. Positive news.

The Performing Arts Consortium of Winnipeg Inc. (PAC) is still in this fund raising phase:

Quote:

A detailed costing exercise was undertaken by Bockstael Construction in January 2024, arriving at an estimated cost of $55 to $60 million for the project. The PAC and WSO have been working closely with all three levels of government with the goal of raising roughly 50% of those costs, with the balance to be raised from the private sector. “To date, we have raised close to $15 million in pledges of support, just scratching the surface with a small number of foundations and individuals,” said Vossen. “Once we secure $25 – $30 million in overall pledged support, including from government, we will green-light the project and launch our major capital campaign. The Pantages is a storied and much-loved community asset and can become a catalyst for further investment in the Exchange district. We have no doubt the public will step up and support this project with enthusiasm. But this project will not be possible without the support of all three levels of government.”

Details on the design can be found here.

Sheepish · #32 Posted **Apr 9, 2026, 5:19 PM**

Thanks WG. On CBC Birdsell explained that fundraising was in early stages. She also advised that they were moving on to detailed drawings and used the term 'shovel ready'. I'm just wondering where we really are in the process and the likelihood of this becoming reality...in our lifetime.

Wpg_Guy · #33 Posted **Apr 9, 2026, 5:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheepish

Thanks WG. On CBC Birdsell explained that fundraising was in early stages. She also advised that they were moving on to detailed drawings and used the term 'shovel ready'. I'm just wondering where we really are in the process and the likelihood of this becoming reality...in our lifetime.

A lot of government funding is contingent on projects being shovel ready, so it's a good next step they have progressed to.

Sheepish · #34 Posted **Apr 9, 2026, 6:46 PM**

Thx. Your insight is appreciated. Let's hope it keeps moving forward.

trueviking · #35 Posted **Apr 9, 2026, 6:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wpg_Guy

Details on the design can be found here.

beautiful design!

trueviking · #36 Posted **Apr 9, 2026, 6:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheepish

Thanks WG. On CBC Birdsell explained that fundraising was in early stages. She also advised that they were moving on to detailed drawings and used the term 'shovel ready'. I'm just wondering where we really are in the process and the likelihood of this becoming reality...in our lifetime.

just don't die in the next couple years.

Sheepish · #37 Posted **Apr 9, 2026, 7:04 PM**

Funny TV...how many years do I have? I fully expect to enjoy hearing the WSO in the new Symphony Hall in the next 5 years. Does that seem about right by your estimation?

trueviking · #38 Posted **Apr 10, 2026, 6:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheepish

Funny TV...how many years do I have? I fully expect to enjoy hearing the WSO in the new Symphony Hall in the next 5 years. Does that seem about right by your estimation?

hang on for three more years....go for a run...cut down your cholesterol.

it is a 2010 job number in my files.

optimusREIM · #39 Posted **Apr 10, 2026, 7:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by trueviking

hang on for three more years....go for a run...cut down your cholesterol.

it is a 2010 job number in my files.

Fingers are crossed

and we await positive news regarding funding and concrete building plans. The renderings look amazing.

Forgive my ignorance (and laziness) but is that parcel fronting Main also part of the Pantages? I see it is a separate parcel on the city property map, but I am wondering if there is any hope of it being developed at some point.

Wpg_Guy · #40 Posted **Apr 10, 2026, 7:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by optimusREIM

Fingers are crossed

and we await positive news regarding funding and concrete building plans. The renderings look amazing.

Forgive my ignorance (and laziness) but is that parcel fronting Main also part of the Pantages? I see it is a separate parcel on the city property map, but I am wondering if there is any hope of it being developed at some point.

It's owned by Futuremark, it's been crickets since they purchased the property.

This tower was potentially their intentions for the site, a design with 5468796 Architecture: