West End landmark plans massive renovation

The West End Cultural Centre in Winnipeg is undertaking a huge expansion project to increase the amount of space it has for music and community programming.

WECC manager Nan Colledge told CBC the 98-year-old former church that's been home to the centre for the past 19 years is showing its age.

"Our west wall is moving in at an alarming rate, so we have structural problems … also, we're also not wheelchair accessible, and I used to work for a disability group and it just drives me crazy," Colledge said.

"We don't have enough washrooms. We don't have a proper lobby for people, and we don't have good facilities so we can do community programming at the same time that we're doing concert programming."

The $3-million project will increase the building's size by more than 4,000 square feet and will include many "green" features, such as geothermal heat, solar-heated water, and rainwater collection for toilet use. It will reuse bricks and other construction materials from the existing building.

"It will become the most environmentally friendly performing arts centre on the continent, and that will be in a neighbourhood that really needs some investment," Colledge said.

The new complex will occupy the same spot at the corner of Sherbrook Street and Ellice Avenue, as well as land from two lots to the south, where derelict houses once stood.

Construction should start next year, with the grand opening planned for 2008. The work will be done in stages to allow concerts to continue during construction.

• WEST END CULTURAL CENTRE: More on the renovation (PDF file)