Winnipeg | Exchange District | Pantages Playhouse Theatre | Restoration | Proposed

[trueviking]

announcement of a nice downtown cultural project coming tomorrow morning.

[ColdRain&Snow]

Originally Posted by trueviking

announcement of a nice downtown cultural project coming tomorrow morning.

Fingers crossed for a waterpark!

[pspeid]

Originally Posted by trueviking

announcement of a nice downtown cultural project coming tomorrow morning.

I'll chime in. A statue of Nick Hill, with tape loop of him saying "c'mon down".

[trueviking]

That is genius actually.

[1ajs]

Originally Posted by trueviking

That is genius actually.

wso right?

[trueviking]

Originally Posted by 1ajs

wso right?

yeah. Pantages moving forward was the announcement. Complete redevelopment into a world class concert hall and home for WSO.

[rivercity]

Freep article mentions estimate of 55-60 million bucks, half of which is from various governments and the other half with a campaign to raise via private sector. Wasnt clear if the 50% from city, province, feds is in hand?

[Sheepish]

Re Pantages. That is fantastic news! Do I win a prize for the guessing right?

[Wpg_Guy]

Ok so i was off by a few blocks, wasn't Graham Ave, yet 😂.

Pantages is a well worth investment it's such a beautiful theatre, Winnipeg can't lose another one.

[pegster]

Originally Posted by trueviking

yeah. Pantages moving forward was the announcement. Complete redevelopment into a world class concert hall and home for WSO.

Very exciting! Any more renders publicly available besides the one in the WFP article (https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-a...-pantages-theatre-renovations-unveiled)?

[Wpg_Guy]

Added to Winnipeg Developments, page 1

Pantages Playhouse Theatre - Revitalization & Restoration
Location: 180 Market Ave
Neighbourhood: Downtown - Point Douglas Ward (Lord Selkirk-West Kildonan Community Committee)
Developer: The Performing Arts Consortium of Winnipeg & Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
Architect: Number TEN Architectural Group
Status: In Development
Documents: Mayor Announces $2 Million Boost for Downtown Arts
Media:

• Arts group has deal to upgrade and run Pantages Theatre-CBC News Manitoba Jul 2020
• Proposed arts funding in Winnipeg includes more than $800K for long-vacant Pantages Theatre-CBC News Manitoba Jan 2025
• Plans for Pantages Theatre renovations unveiled-Winnipeg Free Press Jun 2025
• Arts group raises curtain on plan to modernized Pantages Playhouse-CTV Winnipeg Jun 2025
• Manitoba Invests $15 Million to Transform Historic Pantages Playhouse Theatre into a Performing Arts Centre-May 5, 2026

Description: The Pantages Playhouse Theatre in Winnipeg, a designated national historic site constructed in 1914 and vacant since 2018, is slated for a comprehensive $55–60 million restoration initiative spearheaded by the Performing Arts Consortium of Winnipeg (PAC) in collaboration with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (WSO). This ambitious project, designed by Number TEN Architectural Group, aims to modernize the approximately 1,100-seat historic vaudeville venue by incorporating a deeper and wider stage, an orchestra pit, enhanced sightlines, and upgraded mechanical, electrical, and HVAC systems, all while meticulously preserving its distinctive Edwardian baroque façade and interior elements. The WSO is positioned to serve as the primary managing tenant, hosting the majority of its concerts in the revitalized space, with provisions for shared access by various community arts organizations. Funding for the endeavor is anticipated to be sourced equally from governmental contributions (approximately 50%) and private donations, supplemented by the City of Winnipeg's proposed multi-year commitment totaling $837,000. Acquired by the PAC in 2022 for a nominal $1 from previous developers who retained adjacent land for residential development, the extensive renovation is projected to extend several years. On May 5, 2026, Premier Wab Kinew announced that the Manitoba government will invest $15 million to restore and renovate the historic Pantages.
Permits:

[FactaNV]

You able to show us the renders TV?

[pspeid]

Originally Posted by trueviking

yeah. Pantages moving forward was the announcement. Complete redevelopment into a world class concert hall and home for WSO.

Great news! So much amazing history around that building, plus it's wonderful period architecture.

On a personal note, my school band played there as part of a performance our band director was part of (I think it was a show with assorted local choirs & singing groups?). Anyway, I'm sure there's an historic plaque about it somewhere on site.

[1ajs]

Originally Posted by trueviking

yeah. Pantages moving forward was the announcement. Complete redevelopment into a world class concert hall and home for WSO.

yea had herd about it few months back

[trueviking]

https://www.ctvnews.ca/winnipeg/article/...n-plan-to-modernized-pantages-playhouse/

[pegster]

The renders are awesome.

Curious to know how much will go into getting the acoustics of Pantages right for orchestra and other acoustic/unamplified music. I guess it was built for unamplified vaudeville performances, but that's pretty far from a symphony orchestra.

The Concert Hall has always been a bit mediocre soundwise for the WSO, perhaps because it is so large a space. I like smaller concert halls much better (Orchestra Hall in Detroit is one in which I've spent substantial time and thought sounded amazing).

[FactaNV]

Looks nice. Is that tower proposal dead TV?

[drew]

How does this Pantages proposal affect the existing additions to the west of the building? The renders make it seem like they are being reused and refreshed?

[pspeid]

VERY nice. I'm glad that orange corrugated metal "curtain" on the current entranceway will be replaced with something a little more in line with the architecture of the theatre. Is the strike streetcar monument going to stay where it is?

[cllew]

Originally Posted by pegster

The renders are awesome.

Curious to know how much will go into getting the acoustics of Pantages right for orchestra and other acoustic/unamplified music. I guess it was built for unamplified vaudeville performances, but that's pretty far from a symphony orchestra.

The Concert Hall has always been a bit mediocre soundwise for the WSO, perhaps because it is so large a space. I like smaller concert halls much better (Orchestra Hall in Detroit is one in which I've spent substantial time and thought sounded amazing).

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.