After its retrofit, Canada’s premier centre of the arts will no longer turn its grey back on Ottawa
The National Arts Centre in downtown Ottawa. The darker-coloured sections on the north and west sides are the planned new $110-million addition. Diamond Schmitt Architects has designed the retrofit to complement the existing complex’s geometry.
Currently, the concrete-clad NAC, which was built in the Brutalist style popular in the mid-20th century, as seen along Elgin Street.
The Elgin Street entrance has been historically difficult for patrons to find, because the grander, main entrance is actually on the canal, down a slope on the other side of the building.
This rendering shows the new northwest entrance tower, on Elgin at the end of Queen Street. Plans call for it to be illuminated with digital projections, including live-streamed performances and ads for future events.
The new north and east facades of the NAC as seen from Wellington Street.
The revitalized Elgin Street facade. The Fourth Stage, illuminated here, was originally planned to be a retail space, but eventually became a 150-person performance room. The NAC revitalization will reconfigure its interior layout and make the stage more prominent from the street.
The new glass atrium along the NAC’s north wall will incorporate the same slatted concrete pattern as the original structure.
A pedestrian bridge will take patrons from the new atrium on Elgin Street to the mezzanine level of Southam Hall, the NAC’s biggest performance space.
On the northeast corner of the complex, a new glass atrium will jut forward from the existing structure, creating a multiuse space with sweeping views of Ottawa’s core.
Various walls will be knocked down in the NAC’s main lobby facing the canal, creating significantly more elbow room for patrons.
The Panorama Room, a rentable space facing the canal that’s popular for weddings, will be expanded and reshaped to become a more flexible space.
An aerial rendering of the structure. Read full story at link below: Goodbye concrete shroud - hello dazzle fit for a capital