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D.B. Clarke Theatre to become more functional and safer 

Knowledge Infrastructure Program provides $11 million for performing arts facilities

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The D.B. Clarke Theatre will be undergoing major renovations for the first time in its 40-year history.

The renovations are courtesy of $11 million from the Knowledge Infrastructure Program (KIP) for the renewal of performing arts academic facilities on the Sir George Campus.

Besides generally sprucing up the actual theatre, the lobby will be reconfigured to be more functional for conferences and other events.

“Some of the changes are cosmetic, and some are for safety reasons,” said Associate Vice-President Facilities Management Peter Bolla.

The 380 seats in the theatre will be replaced, according to fine arts Associate Dean Planning and Academic Facilities Ana Cappelluto. The change is not only for the comfort of the audience. Fire regulations require that the seats spring up automatically when vacated to facilitate traffic and many of the seats are no longer operating properly.

The fly system, a complex set of ropes, counterweights and pulleys, used to move curtains, backdrops and lighting will also be completely replaced.

The theatre will be under renovation between June 24 and Dec. 15, so there will be no access to the venue during the Fall 2010 term. Several classes, and some performances that have already been booked, will also have to move as a result.

This KIP project financed the move of the theatre and dance programs last year from Loyola to Sir George, with studios built on the seventh floor of the MB Building and offices on GM 5. This summer, the music department will move into newly constructed rehearsal and studio space on MB 8 and offices alongside those installed in the GM Building last year.

Bolla said this project, like the KIP-funded Genomics Building and PERFORM Centre at Loyola and the Environmental Chamber in the Hall Building, are all proceeding on schedule and on budget.