Entertainment and Hospitality

Metropolitan Theatre

Canad Inns

Entertainment and HospitalityNew ConstructionRenovation

Historic Revival: The Metropolitan Entertainment Centre

Built in 1919, on a wave of motion picture palace construction across North America, today’s Metropolitan Theatre is the only theatre of its genre remaining in its original form in Winnipeg. The famed Allen Theatre, first named for its owners, now represents a bygone era of entertainment celebrating vaudeville acts, orchestral music, short films, and news reels of the 1920s.

In 2007, Canad Inns purchased the site and appointed Number TEN to reconstruct and renovate the building. It opened in 2012 as the new, long awaited Metropolitan Entertainment Centre, a state of the art conference, banquet, and meeting facility.

To meet modern demands, a new annex structure was also added to the original 2-storey building. This added storey met today’s requirements for barrier free access, washrooms, kitchen, storage, elevator, and emergency egress without unduly spoiling the inherent character of the theatre.

The dated electrical and mechanical infrastructure was also completely replaced with entirely new modern systems. The original sloped floors and rowed seating were reconstructed into a series of stepped flat terraces suitable for a state of the art food and entertainment emporium. To round out the modern entertainment experience, theatrical and special effects lighting were also added.

Project Details

Client
Canad Inns
Role
Prime Consultant
Size

4,300 sq.ft. (400 sq.m.) (renovation)
31,180 sq.ft. (2,897 sq.m.) (existing)
12,520 sq.ft. (1,163 sq.m.) (addition)

Completion
2012
Cost
$12.4M
Location
Winnipeg – MB

Preserving the building’s historic integrity was central to design.

After a century of wear, the Metropolitan’s original luster lay beneath a collapsed roof, water damaged interior, and decades of decay. Preserving the building’s historic integrity was central to design. The original massive cut-glass chandelier, the spectacular centerpiece of the main auditorium’s high domed ceiling, was completely restored to its original glow.

In addition, the plaster work of artist Emmanuel Briffa was skillfully repaired and restored to highlight the gently sloped cantilevered balcony, small side wall boxes, and twin staircases. Public areas were also given vibrant carpeting, wall paper, paint, and other embellishments to re-establish its original ambiance.

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