The University of Guelph has broken ground on the renewal and expansion of its performing arts facilities, which houses the College of Arts and the International Institute for Critical Studies in Improvisation (IICSI).
Designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects, the 45,000-square-foot project reimagines the north wing of the MacKinnon Building—a 1967 building by Josep Lluís Sert, located in the heart of campus.
A new theatre will be built in the courtyard, fulfilling the original intention to use the area as a theatre space. The ImprovLab will be a publicly accessible, multi-use research environment to present, record and analyse improvised performance.
The 160-seat black box theatre will have office and research space to accommodate a range of audience seating and research participation.
Renovations will also involve building a new main entrance, creating student spaces, and reconfiguring and returning the Luscombe Theatre to a black-box performance space. The work will include creating new music practice rooms and upgrades to address both accessibility and acoustical issues.
“This modernization enhances both the aesthetics and performance capabilities of the MacKinnon Building to engage students and support their creative drive,” says Michael Treacy, Principal, Diamond Schmitt Architects. “Acoustically attenuated rooms for practice and performance are complemented by an abundance of light-filled space that opens and connects the building with the campus.”
Construction begins this fall to create the foundations and enclosure of the new building. The project is expected to be completed in Spring 2021.