Fredericton Performing Arts Centre

Location
Fredericton, NB, Canada

Owner
City of Fredericton and Fredericton Playhouse Inc. 

Team
Acoustics and AV  - Threshold
Architect - Diamond Schmitt Architects
Theatre Consultant - Fisher Dachs Associates

Size
72,000 square feet
850-seat multipurpose hall
300-seat black box theatre

Schedule
Estimated Construction Start 2023

The existing Fredericton Playhouse is a special place, seeing an impressive one in five residents regularly visiting for performances. The organization was in need of a new Performing Arts Center to accommodate the ever growing audiences and allow for a variety of year-round events. Threshold is providing both Acoustics and AV services for the project with a special focus in the two halls for performance. 

The Main Hall is a multiuse venue for a variety of performance types including drama, musicals, dance, film, circus, amplified music, orchestral performances, choir, recitals, and touring shows. Most of the room acoustics will favor amplified events with accommodation to support unamplified music and variability required to accommodate the range of possible functions at a consistent level of quality.

The Studio Theatre will be a flexible drama, music, dance, social event, and meeting space. Both amplified and unamplified events will take place within. It will contain a maximum seat count of 300 audience members with a flexible configuration focused primarily on end stage and flat floor conditions.

The early concept design explores the Centre as a space for not only formal events but also informal gatherings any time, as a living room for the City. The City of Fredericton knew that the community is strengthened by live performance.