New Brunswick’s new Performing Arts Centre, set to open in 2026, will stand as a modern landmark for creativity and community, blending cutting-edge design with local cultural heritage.Playhouse Theatre/Supplied
For a city known for its picturesque riverside views and historic charm, Fredericton is about to add another jewel to its crown. The new Performing Arts Centre, scheduled to open in 2026, will be more than just a replacement for the Playhouse Theatre – it will be a transformative space that nurtures the region’s artistic talent and strengthens community bonds through live performances, workshops, and collaborative events.
“As a small capital city in a small province, our performing arts community is rather unique,” says Lisa Anne Ross, artistic producer of Solo Chicken Productions, a performing arts company that creates works of theatre and advocates for local artists. “In a larger centre, folks tend to work in silos, but here we all drift in and out of each other’s projects and spheres, creating a lovely interconnected community.”
Ms. Ross has performed at the Playhouse Theatre many times, and like many Fredericton artists, she considers it an important part of her professional life.
A million-dollar investment in the arts
Since its doors opened in 1964, the Playhouse has been a welcoming space that fosters community engagement, supports local performing arts and provides on-stage entertainment.
However, after hiring consulting engineers to assess the building’s condition in the early 2010s, the theatre’s board discovered that the space needed extensive, expensive work. “We asked ourselves, ‘Should we look at our current needs, and even more importantly, our dreams and aspirations for the future and build for that?’” says Playhouse executive director Tim Yerxa. “And so that initial decision [for a new performing arts centre] was made many years ago, but projects of this size take time.”
The Playhouse building will soon close to make way for the new Fredericton Performing Arts Centre (PAC), an estimated $82-million project set to open in late 2026. The 72,000-square-foot space will include state-of-the-art acoustics, technology and design, as well as two theatres totalling 1,150 seats – up from the Playhouse’s 709-seat limit. “What we are building is a community centre that focuses on shared, live experiences,” says Mr. Yerxa, adding that the theatre will also be an architectural addition to the city core.
New design inspired by surroundings
The spacious lobby of the new Performing Arts Centre features sweeping glass windows and modern design elements inspired by the natural flow of the Saint John River, creating a welcoming space for guests to gather and connect.Playhouse Theatre/Supplied
The vision for the new centre extends beyond functionality, blending with Fredericton’s existing architectural landscape and playing homage to the region’s natural beauty and cultural heritage.
“Fredericton has a remarkable range of architectural expressions within the downtown district,” says Gary McCluskie, a design architect at Toronto-based Diamond Schmitt, the architecture firm leading the project along with Fredericton-based EXP Engineering. “Materials like red brick connect with the predominant character of the neighbourhood,” he adds. “We were also impressed by the presence of the Saint John River, and we reflected the shape and pattern of the rippling surface of the river in the design of the large glass windows of the lobbies.”
Drawing inspiration from the local surroundings is also reflected in the Performing Arts Centre’s main hall, the larger of two new theatre spaces. The design is based on two interconnected concepts of form and texture, Mr. McCluskie says. “The form of the hall is a semi-circle that opens to the stage so that the audience embraces the performers,” he adds, saying the structure’s interior walls are textured with interwoven panels to represent a woven basket that reflects local Indigenous traditions.
Building community through arts and diversity
The state-of-the-art theatre comes alive with vibrant performances, offering a stunning venue for on-stage artists to connect with audiences in an intimate, acoustically refined setting.Playhouse Theatre/Supplied
The Performing Arts Centre aims to be more than just an architectural statement – it’s set to become a space where art, tradition and community intersect. This vision is creating excitement within Fredericton’s arts community and beyond. “The Playhouse has always worked to create space for local artists to present, experiment and create on their stage,” says Ms. Ross. “With the new Performing Arts Centre, my hope is that this community support will only increase.”
The Playhouse’s current season offers a wide variety of programs, including Broadway productions like Rock of Ages, a ballet inspired by the region’s Wolastoq community, a performance by comedian Tom Green and modern dance shows.
Vancouver-based performance company Radical System Art recently performed on the Playhouse’s stage. The company’s artistic director, Shay Kuebler, calls Fredericton a welcoming space for touring artists and believes the $82-million investment in the theatre proves the importance of the arts and how crucial they are to human connection.
“Live performing arts are in a tenuous time,” he says. “To hear about a new live performance venue is amazing and really important. We need places of culture to be more inviting, accessible and innovative. It’s at the heart of what we want.”
Mr. Yerxa has been with the Playhouse since 2000 and is committed to ensuring Fredericton’s theatre community is an inclusive space that recognizes the city’s many people and cultures. “We’re very focused on diversity and making sure that the people who live in our community have access to a variety of artistic experiences, both traditional and contemporary.”
To make sure the new theatre reflects the community’s needs, both the board and the architects spoke with the local community to ensure that what’s built serves those affected the most.
“The vision of our organization actually is not about elevating the arts at all. It’s about making the community stronger by increasing people’s human connection with one another,” Mr. Yerxa says. “It’s about using the arts as a reason for people to gather around and have a shared experience, and that builds community.”