Concept would see iconic art-gallery building converted into a spectacular cultural gathering point with a new below-ground concert hall; gallery annex would be converted into a small theatre
Vancouver, March 4, 2011 – The Vancouver Concert Hall and Theatre Society today announced a plan for an innovative solution to a potentially vacant Art Gallery site – the design and construction of a new below-ground, 1,950-seat concert hall underneath the existing plaza fronting Georgia Street.
With the possible relocation of the Art Gallery to 688 Cambie Street, the Vancouver Concert Hall and Theatre Society, the group representing the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and 20 of the city’s best-known performing arts groups, is proposing a way of maintaining the continued importance of this vital heritage building and site.
“This is a potentially wonderful and very significant development for Vancouver” said Ron Stern, chairman of the Vancouver Concert Hall and Theatre Society. “We believe this concept represents a dynamic, creative solution to the potential dilemma of this iconic building’s future while creating a new centre for cultural gatherings, open to the enjoyment of all Vancouverites.”
The proposal by the Concert Hall and Theatre Society would see the concert hall constructed below the Georgia Street plaza. The historic building, once Vancouver’s court house, would be converted into a public space with lobbies for the two theatres, restaurants, boutiques and other cultural uses. The front doors of the building would once again be open to the public. Sky-lit escalators would carry patrons from the lobby down to a breathtaking concert hall.
The above-ground plaza would be completely refurbished to expand on its present role as a gathering point for citizens to hold public activities such as celebrations, festivals and demonstrations.
Meanwhile, the historic Annex building that faces onto Robson Street would be redeveloped as part of the project to house a 450-seat multipurpose dance, music and theatre venue to accommodate organizations such as the Chor Leoni Men’s Choir, Blackbird Theatre, Musica Intima, The Electric Company, Music on Main, and the Vancouver International Dance Festival.
Stern said the Society has consulted international concert-hall experts for their opinions on the concept. They believe it is viable and could be the most sophisticated concert hall of its size to be located underground. Stern added “The public consultation process that was recently put into place by the City of Vancouver will now provide a forum for rigorous examination and full public input into this idea as it considers the possible relocation of the Vancouver Art Gallery.”
The Concert Hall Society has also consulted architectural, engineering and other experts for their opinions on the underground concert hall, including Bing Thom Architects, Vancouver-based designers of the recently acclaimed Arena Stage Theatre complex in Washington D.C. and the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at UBC, for its architectural assessment. Bing Thom was Project Director on Arthur Erickson’s Robson Square project and has an intimate understanding of the potential of the site. “This is a radical idea that will transform our city and is keeping with Vancouver’s tradition of leading-edge urban thinking and green design,” Thom said, while adding that excavation does not appear to be a problem. He has consulted with geotechnical experts and cited the neighbouring Hotel Georgia parkade, which was recently excavated to a depth of 110 feet.
Michael Heeney, the Principal and Executive Director of Bing Thom Architects, said he sees significant environmental advantages to the proposed concert hall. Work would be done on an existing building, eliminating the need to build from scratch. He added the new building would be well insulated from both sound and temperature by the earth surrounding it. “That would mean a great opportunity for heating and cooling the building by taking advantage of the earth’s temperature. And there would be substantial reductions in costs associated with reusing many of the existing facilities and eliminating the need to clad the exterior of the concert hall.”
Celebrated international acoustician, Yasuhisa Toyota, of Nagata Acoustics, said the concept makes great sense. He has been chief acoustician for over 50 projects worldwide, including the successful Disney Hall of Los Angeles. “Sound isolation underground is potentially easier than above ground. And the volume of the site will accommodate the 1,950 seats for the concert hall,” he said.
The new vision for the Concert Hall Complex grew out of a recent Vancouver City Council decision. Last month, Council agreed to allot two of three available acres of land at the 688 Cambie Street site for cultural use. Since 2008, the plan had been for a Concert Hall complex to be on a shared site with a possibly relocated Art Gallery. But with Council’s decision on acreage at the site, the Society concluded that it might be difficult to build the concert hall and theatre, together with the Art Gallery, without a complicated design solution.
The proposed concert hall would be a spectacular venue for Vancouver’s Grammy and Juno-award winning VSO. Plans also include projecting concerts and rehearsals onto above-ground screens.
“Every musical institution in the city will benefit from the proposed concert hall, from school choirs and bands to string quartets to the VSO itself,” said Bramwell Tovey, VSO Musical Director. “It will bring Vancouver a world-class facility and a purpose-built acoustical concert hall, and will be of enormous benefit to the city’s blossoming musical life and growing international reputation for cultural excellence.”
The new concert hall and theatre would not occupy the entire existing building, providing important public space available for other community cultural uses.
“We hope our proposal will reinvent the present site and building into a place that offers a variety of important arts and other uses for the community,” said Stern. “Our vision is of a centre that is active both day and night, so we are keen to collaborate with others who can help generate a range of activities. We look forward to a full and open consultation process whose end result will be a cultural site the entire city can enjoy.”
About the Vancouver Concert Hall and Theatre Society:
The Society represents 20 arts groups, including the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, MusicFest Vancouver, the Vancouver Recital Society, Coastal Jazz and Blues and the Vancouver Chamber Choir.
For more information:
Ann Gibbon
604 263 0634
778 999 0064 (mobile)
media@concerthallcomplex.org
