Manitoba Music
Venue Takes Centre Stage
One of Canada's best and most respected music venues is getting a new lease on life. The West End Cultural Centre (WECC), a converted 80-year-old church, has developed significant structural problems over the years and the building has become too small to house the types of events and community programming the WECC undertakes. For years, the staff and board of the WECC have wrestled with whether or not to relocate or rebuild. Firmly committed to its inner city location, it was announced on June 20 that the WECC's current building will be knocked down to make way for a the most environmentally conscious community arts centre in North America, putting an end to months of speculation.
Since it opened in 1987, the WECC has been home to some of the most exciting, innovative, and amazing music in a variety of genres from local, national, and international touring artists. The WECC has helped to create an involved community through outreach, programming and events. The WECC has also played a considerable role in the development and fostering of one of Canada's most vibrant music scenes.
With $2 million in funding from sources including Canadian Heritage, Winnipeg Partnership Agreement, and The Winnipeg Foundation, the WECC will undertake demolition and construction of an ambitiously green building that meets LEED (Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design) Gold standards, North America’s first arts centre to do so. The new building will feature such elements as a geothermal heating system, solar hot water system, rainwater collection system for toilet flushing, and a process that will see the existing building de-constructed with many materials re-used in the new building.
The new WECC will have an over 4000 sq. ft. increase with capacity growing from 300 to over 400 patrons. There will also be a new hall for daytime programs and more intimate concerts as well as great improvements to patron services like the lobby, bar, kitchen, washrooms, and wheelchair access.
Construction is planned for the spring of 2007, with careful scheduling to minimize distruption to audiences, performers and daily operations and the venue will stay open for business throughout the process. The WECC has already completed phase 1, including the purchase and demolition of two derelict houses directly behind the venue which will be the site for the new concert hall. The current building's demolition will make way for the smaller community hall, offices, and patron facilities.
There is still a lot for the WECC to do, including raising of the $1 million still needed to complete the project, but the grand opening is planned for fall 2008.
For more information on the WECC's Take Centre Stage campaign, please visit http://www.wecc.ca/site2/redev/redev.html.
Since it opened in 1987, the WECC has been home to some of the most exciting, innovative, and amazing music in a variety of genres from local, national, and international touring artists. The WECC has helped to create an involved community through outreach, programming and events. The WECC has also played a considerable role in the development and fostering of one of Canada's most vibrant music scenes.
With $2 million in funding from sources including Canadian Heritage, Winnipeg Partnership Agreement, and The Winnipeg Foundation, the WECC will undertake demolition and construction of an ambitiously green building that meets LEED (Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design) Gold standards, North America’s first arts centre to do so. The new building will feature such elements as a geothermal heating system, solar hot water system, rainwater collection system for toilet flushing, and a process that will see the existing building de-constructed with many materials re-used in the new building.
The new WECC will have an over 4000 sq. ft. increase with capacity growing from 300 to over 400 patrons. There will also be a new hall for daytime programs and more intimate concerts as well as great improvements to patron services like the lobby, bar, kitchen, washrooms, and wheelchair access.
Construction is planned for the spring of 2007, with careful scheduling to minimize distruption to audiences, performers and daily operations and the venue will stay open for business throughout the process. The WECC has already completed phase 1, including the purchase and demolition of two derelict houses directly behind the venue which will be the site for the new concert hall. The current building's demolition will make way for the smaller community hall, offices, and patron facilities.
There is still a lot for the WECC to do, including raising of the $1 million still needed to complete the project, but the grand opening is planned for fall 2008.
For more information on the WECC's Take Centre Stage campaign, please visit http://www.wecc.ca/site2/redev/redev.html.