Council asked to support $62-million budget increase for Werklund Centre modernization

To date, $74.5 million has been committed to the modernization, leaving a funding shortfall of $270.5 million.

A major capital project for Calgary’s arts sector may require an additional injection of more than $60 million in city funds, according to a new report. On Monday, members of Calgary’s Werklund Centre Transformation Advisory Committee will receive an update on the city-led project to overhaul the downtown campus formerly known as Arts Commons. The report outlines that Calgary city council will be asked to support a budget request of $125 million — virtually double the funding the city has already earmarked — to support the Werklund Centre modernization, during November’s budget deliberations.

“As a result of the adjusted project scope and associated cost estimate, administration has requested an increase to the currently unfunded city modernization contribution from $63 million to $125 million through the 2027-2030 capital funding request,” the report states. The three-part project includes construction of a new 170,000-sq.ft. theatre building at the corner of 7th Avenue and 1st Street S.E.; an overhaul of Olympic Plaza ; and modernization of the existing Werklund Centre, the 1980s-era campus in the heart of downtown Calgary.

Construction began on the new building — which will include the 1,000-seat Osten Victor Playhouse, as well as a 200-seat studio theatre — in 2025, while a ceremonial groundbreaking for the Olympic Plaza revitalization was held in May. Both of those projects are fully funded and are slated to be completed in late 2028. The Olympic Plaza transformation has a $68 million budget, while the Werklund Centre expansion, which will increase the campus’ audience capacity by 45 per cent, is expected to cost $306 million.

The expansion represents the largest arts infrastructure project underway in Canada and the single biggest philanthropic donation to the performing arts in Canadian history, according to the city. Federal funding not yet confirmed Design is complete for the $345-million modernization of the existing campus, but construction can’t begin until additional funding is confirmed, the report states. The project could start in 2029, pending funding securement by the end of this year, and would likely take three years to complete, it adds.

The project will redevelop the Jack Singer Concert Hall lobby, improve connectivity between common theatre spaces, expand office space for Werklund Centre officials and six resident companies, increase accessibility for front- and back-of-house operations and expand arts education space. Work will also include seismic upgrades and amenity lifecycle improvements. “Modernization of the existing building is a critical component of the Werklund Centre Transformation vision and a key component of long-term operational sustainability,” the report states.

“The existing facility is the premier performing arts space in Calgary and the transformation of this space will allow Werklund Centre to continue to meet the needs of Calgarians and the growing demand for flexible cultural, arts, and education spaces.” To date, $74.5 million has been committed to the modernization, leaving a funding shortfall of $270.5 million. To fill that gap, the Werklund Centre is lobbying the federal government to match the $103 million the Alberta government is providing to support the projects, while fundraising the remainder through a philanthropic donation campaign.

Federal support has not yet been announced. When the committee last met in January, Alex Sarian, president and CEO of the Werklund Centre, told members the three projects are intentionally sequenced so modernization will occur last, to give current tenants and resident theatre companies a heads-up and ensure their programming can relocate to the new theatre site. Asked at the time whether the modernization is necessary for the project as a whole, Sarian told the committee they should consider it a non-starter to not advance that work, considering nearly $200 million in philanthropic and government support was provided with the understanding the renovations were part of the overall vision.

Mayor supportive of ask, pending leverage of other funding sources Mayor Jeromy Farkas said he’s open to hearing a request for more funding, considering the Werklund Centre transformation is a catalyst for Calgary’s downtown revitalization. But he added the project needs to leverage funding from other orders of government and private-sector sources. “The Werklund Centre modernization is something that’s going to be really pivotal for Calgary’s downtown, not just for the arts, but also for our economy, for downtown vibrancy, but also potentially public safety, by driving more people into the area,” he told reporters Thursday.

“I’m not necessarily opposed to giving a commitment, so long as that’s conditional on full leverage from the province, the feds, and the private sector — I think that’s one of the best ways that the city can actually get these projects built.” Sarian was unavailable for comment Friday, while spokespersons from the City of Calgary and the Calgary Municipal Land Corp., which are also partners on the projects, both declined to comment until after Monday’s meeting. Catch up with the day’s headlines, curated by our editors and delivered to your email inbox at lunchtime on every business day.

Sign up now for the Calgary Herald Noon News Roundup.