OttawaPhotos

National Arts Centre officially breaks ground for major renovations

The National Arts Centre has officially broken ground on its $110-million renovation project, the bulk of which is expected to be complete in time for Canada's 150th birthday.

Canadian architect Donald Schmitt is heading the $110-million project

CBC News Posted: Feb 09, 2016 7:00 PM EST | Last Updated: February 10, 2016

A rendering of the new Elgin Street entrance to the National Arts Centre by Diamond Schmitt Architects. The bulk of the renovation is expected to be finished in time for Canada's 150th birthday. (Diamond Schmitt Architects)

The National Arts Centre redesign will use glass to counter the concrete, "adding a layer of transparency," the architect heading the project said on CBC Radio's All In A Day after the $110-million renovation project officially broke ground on Tuesday.

A new Elgin Street entrance and atrium, as well as a new north addition to replace the concrete terraces, are expected to be unveiled in timefor Canada's150thbirthdayonJuly 1, 2017.

"What we're really doing is turning the National Arts Centre to really face the city," said principal architect Donald Schmitt.

"Thebuilding was really designed to face thecanal. It was almost designed as a piece of landscape that you climbed up and over the building and descended on the canal side."

Schmittisknown for his work on performingarts venues around the world, including the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto,MaisonSymphoniqueinMontral, theMariinskyTheatre in St. Petersburg, Russia and the new DavidGeffenHall in New York City.

The NAC has not had any major work done since it opened in 1969.

Listen to the full interview here.

NAC north addition

A rendition of what the north addition of the National Arts Centre will look like when complete in July 2017. (Diamond Schmitt Architects)

North addition lounge

A rendering of what a new north-facing NAC lounge is expected to look like when complete in July 2017. (Diamond Schmitt Architects)

North atrium staircase

North addition tower room

A rendering of what the new north tower room is expected to look like when complete in July 2017. (Diamond Schmitt Architects)

Panorama Room

While the bulk of the renovations are expected to finished by Canada Day 2017, the dining room, which faces the Rideau Canal, is expect to be complete in January 2018.

A rendering of what the renovated dining room will look like when complete in January 2018. (Diamond Schmitt Architects)

Canada'sHeritage Minister Mlanie Joly and Ottawa Mayor Jim Watsontook part in the ceremonial tossing of purple sand on Tuesday morning to mark the official groundbreaking.

Groundbreaking at @CanadasNAC with a great team. CC: @JimWatsonOttawa, @DiamondSchmitt & co. #NAC2017 #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/ZF1ihhHCnT
—@melaniejoly

Construction will take place between 12 a.m. and 2 p.m., then "drills down," allowing performances to continue, said NAC director of communication Rosemary Thompson.

She added thatTheFourth Stage will shut down in May until the grand re-opening but that the theeother main stages will remain open.

"The show must always go on," she said."We know it can be a challenge but we want our audience to let us know how we're doing and to stay with us."

CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices|About CBC News

Corrections and clarifications|Submit a news tip|