Calgary’s art scene is getting one step closer to a major upgrade, with vertical construction now underway on the Werklund Centre.
Crews have begun building the 1,000-seat Osten-Victor Playhouse, which is part of the 170,000 sq. ft. Werklund Centre Transformation that will add two new theatres to the downtown performing arts complex.
Calgary Municipal Land Corporation
The expansion will also include a 200-seat studio theatre, both designed using specialized “box-within-a-box” construction to limit noise and vibration from the surrounding downtown and nearby CTrain.
“The state-of-the-art experience Calgarians will have inside the Osten-Victor Playhouse is made possible by the careful construction of its exterior shell, designed to shield the theatre from the noise and vibration of the bustling city that surrounds it,” said Alex Sarian, president and CEO of Werklund Centre, in a release.
The Werklund Centre Transformation, alongside the Olympic Plaza Transformation are part of a broader effort to revitalize Calgary’s downtown core. Both are anticipated to be completed in 2028. The project is being delivered in partnership with the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC).
Calgary Municipal Land Corporation
“Since construction began in January 2025, the project team has completed critical foundational work, including site excavation, secant wall construction, building foundations, and elevator shafts,” said Kate Thompson, president & CEO of CMLC.
“With the 1,000-seat theatre box rising to ground level, Calgarians can begin to see the physical form of a project that will have a lasting impact on our downtown and the city’s cultural landscape.”
The second phase of the Werklund Centre Transformation, which includes the modernization of the existing Werklund Centre, is currently in the design phase and expected to start construction once funding is secured.
You can learn more about the project online.
The Werklund Centre Transformation isn’t the only project the CMLC has on the go. It recently announced big plans for Calgary’s East Village.