UBC sChooL oF MUsiCA New Future for the Old Auditorium

For many students, alumni and members of the community, the old Auditorium occupies a special place.

one of UBC’s oldest buildings, the Auditorium is located at the heart of the University’s arts precinct. it has, over the past 80-plus years, hosted countless dignitaries and festive occasions, been a training ground for generations of musicians and performers, and served as a valued social space for student activity and assembly. heavy and diverse use, however, has resulted in significant deterioration of the building and its facilities.

A unique opportunity now exists to renew the “old Aud” to its spectacular former glory.

once renovated, it will be the only 580-seat concert hall in Vancouver with a 60-seat orchestra pit, stunning collegial gothic architecture, a shoebox design for exceptional acoustics, excellent site lines and an intimate grandeur rarely found in north American concert halls.

Ultimately, the old Auditorium’s new future will continue to serve its historic purpose as a dedicated performance centre, perfect for classical music and opera, and an outstanding facility for students, alumni, and the entire community.

introdUCtionA New Future for the Old Auditorium

to renew the old Auditorium to meet modern-day theatrical and operatic needs while preserving its historic features.

to provide a training ground to educate our students in performance—especially orchestral musicians and those studying voice and opera—at a level superior to most institutions in north America.

projeCt GoALsOld Auditorium Renewal Project

to take UBC’s Voice & opera division to the next level, enabling UBC to develop one of the premier, academically-based opera and voice training programs in north America.

to offer the community—as well as local, national, and international ensembles and artists—a professional, mid-sized concert venue with exceptional acoustics and unique character.

ConCert hALL Addition of an orchestra pit with lift: A new pit is fundamental to the successful use of the Auditorium for opera rehearsal and productions, with access to rehearsal and change areas for a 60-member orchestra. no orchestra pit exists in the present building.

New fly tower system: To properly display opera and theatre sets.

new ‘back-of-house’ areas: trap room, secure costume storage, shop space, and set loading to facilitate the full range of activities required to mount an opera production.

Fully refurbished and new seating: the current seating was salvaged from the Broadway theatre by professor dorothy somerset in the 1950s.

Upgraded lighting and sound systems: to meet the technical needs of in-house and guest productions.

Artist dressing rooms off the main stage.

LoBBy Fully accessible main point of entry, with box office, coat check, concession services and other amenities.

LoWer LeVeL Addition of two new rehearsal halls for voice and instrument practice.

Updated green room and ensemble dressing rooms for artists.

enhanced teaching studios for vocal coaching.

Multiple studios and offices to broaden day-to-day use for a full range of music studies.

projeCt sCopeA New Future for the Old Auditorium

The renewal of the Old Auditorium consists of significant and extensive technical and mechanical updates to all interior spaces, from the most basic renovations and reconstruction to the most technically advanced upgrades.

total project Cost: $20 million

Combined contributions from the Government of British Columbia, the University of British Columbia, and the UBC Faculty of Arts: $15 million.

Goal for private sector support: $5 million.

An additional opportunity exists to establish an old Auditorium endowment to support the building’s annual operations and programming in perpetuity.

renovations to commence 2008, with an anticipated re-opening of the facility in early 2010.

BUdGet & tiMeLine

Meaningful, enduring, and personalized recognition is available to supporters of the old Auditorium renewal project, including but not limited to the following naming opportunities:

the BUiLdinG

MAin ConCert hALL

LoBBy

seLeCted rooMsrehearsal halls, green room, teaching studios and others

operAtinG

endoWMent

reCoGnition & nAMinG opportUnities

A New Future for the Old Auditorium

Christopher WhitneyMajor Gifts OfficerUBC Faculty of Artst: 604-822-4790e: christopher.whitney@ubc.ca

proFessor riChArd KUrthDirectorUBC school of Musict: 604-822-5436e: richard.kurth@ubc.ca

proFessor nAnCy herMistonHead, Voice & Opera DivisionUBC school of Musict: 604-822-8246e: nancy.hermiston@ubc.ca

ContACt inForMAtion

For more information on the old Auditorium renewal project and/or a private tour of the facility, please contact:

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