Pumphouse Theatre Study

Proscenium, in partnership with Marshal Tittemore Architects, was engaged by the Pumphouse Theatre Society in 2013 to carry out a Feasibility Study for a major expansion of the Pumphouse Theatre. Built in 1913, the Pumphouse Theatre is located in an water pumping station repurposed into a community theatre in the early 1970s. As a cultural anchor for Calgary’s West Village, the Pumphouse Theatre’s popularity necessitated an upgrade and major expansion.

The intent of the study was to build upon the existing legacy of the theatre by creating a central hub for the local arts scene. The project team, by way of extensive stakeholder engagement, completed schematic design for the renovation and upgrade of the two existing theatres (the Joyce Doolittle Theatre and the Victor Mitchell Theatre), including the addition of a 150-seat black box theatre, rehearsal hall, restaurant, and a business centre for use by non-profit arts organizations. The design was warm, welcoming, and expansive, punctuated by the early use of mass timber structural elements. Bow River Pumphouse No. 2, the focus of the development, was an important heritage resource that will be conserved as part of the project. The renovation/addition to the Pumphouse Theatre was designed for LEED® certification and employed innovative stormwater management.