The Vancouver East Cultural Centre: Change and Rejuvenation - The Future

Over the past 30 years, the Vancouver East Cultural Centre has established itself as a leader among Canada’s arts presenters.  Today, we have an opportunity to solidify that position by showing the community that after 30 years of presenting some of the most exciting performances in Canada; we are still setting trends and paving the way for the future. This Renovation project has four principal objectives;

1. to construct the first LEED certified performing arts facility in Canada.
2. to enable the Vancouver East Cultural Centre to continue fulfilling its commitment to the community to provide a rich and diverse array of cultural programming.
3. to provide the City of Vancouver and the GVRD with an additional, fully equipped performance/gathering space.
4. to address concerns regarding general deterioration and structural integrity of the existing facilities.

Anticipated results of redeveloping the Vancouver East Cultural Centre will include; ·       an expanded east side arts complex with an improved auditorium, ·        a new, state-of-the-art studio theatre space,·       greater flexibility with respect to usage, availability, and programming·        new public exhibition space, showcasing Vancouver’s visual arts,·        improved rehearsal space for Vancouver’s arts community,·        upgraded, expanded, and affordable office space,·        expanded and enhanced programming through the creation of a second space,·        cost savings and artistic support through shared initiatives, economies of scale and joint resource management under one roof. The Vancouver East Cultural Centre’s vision is the creation of an innovative ‘cultural enterprise’ on Vancouver’s east side, based on the VECC’s strong community foundation. That vision includes developing a working structure in which the VECC and our cultural partners can achieve mutual economic support through shared initiatives, economies of scale and joint resource management under one new roof. The process of certifying the building to a LEED standard is an exciting and bold step for an arts organization.  There is increasing public call for the development of sustainable facilities, and though many office buildings and residences are now being constructed to adhere to LEED standards, to date, not one performing arts centre has been constructed to these standards.  This development will set a new standard for arts facilities in Canada, and inspire future development.