Werklund Centre Transformation Expansion marks construction progress on new theatre space

Vertical construction begins to take shape on 170,000 sq. ft. expansion of Calgary’s premier performing arts centre

Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC), Werklund Centre and The City of Calgary celebrate the start of construction on the Werklund Centre Transformation (WCT) Expansion’s theatre box, marking the project’s first phase of vertical construction and a pivotal step toward delivering a new, world-class performance venue in downtown Calgary.

“CMLC and our partners are thrilled by the progress happening on-site, behind the hoarding, on the WCT Expansion” said Kate Thompson, President & CEO of CMLC, Development Manager for the project. “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. 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 city’s cultural landscape.”

Two new theatres will be built in the 170,000 sq. ft. Werklund Centre Transformation Expansion – the 1,000-seat Osten-Victor Playhouse and a 200-seat studio theatre. Both are being constructed using specialized building techniques unique to performance spaces.

Theatre construction differs significantly from conventional buildings, requiring thicker walls, acoustic separation, and vibration isolation systems to support live performance. Designed as a “box-within-a-box,” the structures are engineered to limit noise and structural movement, ensuring optimal acoustic conditions while remaining independent from the rest of the building and protected from the activity of downtown and adjacent CTrain. With the foundations of the 1,000-seat theatre box complete and vertical construction underway, the project is transitioning from highly critical underground work to specialized structural construction.

"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,” explains Alex Sarian, President and CEO of Werklund Centre. “The late Al Osten and Buddy Victor believed in the power of the arts to bring people together and make our communities more loving and compassionate. To witness their legacy take shape in downtown Calgary is increasingly meaningful and moving.”

The two-phased Werklund Centre Transformation and the adjacent Olympic Plaza Transformation (OPT) are a vital component of The City of Calgary’s Downtown Strategy, supporting increased vibrancy, economic activity, and cultural investment in the city’s core. Together these projects will create a connected cultural campus that supports year-round programming and community gathering under Werklund Centre’s stewardship.

“Downtown is the economic and cultural heart of our city,” said Thom Mahler, Director, Downtown Strategy at The City of Calgary. “Calgary needs a strong core to grow sustainably, and the Werklund Centre and Olympic Plaza Transformation projects are a catalyst in creating a vibrant and active city centre. This milestone demonstrates how we can deliver complex municipal projects through strategic planning and collaboration to support downtown’s revitalization and Calgary’s broader cultural ecosystem.”

The first phase of WCT – the 170,000 sq. ft. Expansion – is under construction and anticipated to be completed in 2028. Construction on the Olympic Plaza Transformation will begin in earnest in 2026, and is anticipated to be completed in 2028 alongside the Expansion. Design is progressing on the second phase of WCT – the modernization of the existing Werklund Centre facility – and construction will begin once funding is secured.

The Werklund Centre and Olympic Plaza Transformation projects are generously funded by the Government of Alberta, The City of Calgary and Dave Werklund and Family.

The WCT Expansion was designed by KPMB Architects, Hindle Architects and Tawaw Architecture Collective, with project management by Colliers Project Leaders and is led by construction manager EllisDon.

For more information on the Werklund Centre Transformation Expansion and construction progress, visit calgarymlc.ca/WCT