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Edmonton's Citadel Theatre has been a major cultural institution in the Albertan city since its inception in 1965. Originally located in an old Salvation Army Citadel on 103rd Street, the current theatre sited in Edmonton's Arts District off Churchill Square opened in 1976. Each season brings over 110,000 people into the five performance halls of the Citadel, and after 50 years in its current home, the organization hopes to inject some new life into its aging spaces.
Upon entering the building, a large atrium greets visitors. Located on the first floor, the Lee Pavilion hosts lush tropical greenery donated by the Muttart Conservatory, and serves as a temporary retreat from Edmonton's harsh winters. Combined with the Carlson Aquascape Waterfall, the spot is a popular location for wedding, engagement, and graduation photo shoots.
In an effort to rejuvenate the space, the Citadel Theatre and the City of Edmonton — which owns the land — released a call for expressions of interest in 2012. The release stated that the intent of the redevelopment would be to "magnify the Citadel's current iconic venue, contribute to the vibrancy of downtown Edmonton, and generate an additional revenue stream," noting also that the existing architecture should be maintained.
Four years later, a curious description accompanied by renderings can be found on the website of Dub Architects. They portray the Citadel Cloud, a slender concrete core rising from the atrium of the building, wrapped in glass. Seeming to float above the structure, over 20 storeys of hotel and residential units arranged within undulating floor plates create a dynamic and unconventional new landmark for Edmonton. The glass facade and mullions reach up to the sky, shielding a rooftop garden, and down to the pavilion, almost acting as a modern extension to the 1970s orange-mullioned windows of the theatre. Inside, an additional green wall is affixed to the core, providing a further mix of natural and urban atmospheres. Affordable housing units were also pegged as a possibility for the tower, which could be likened to a modern interpretation of Chicago's Marina City.
It is not clear whether this is purely a concept or has any real chance of coming to fruition, but we'll keep a close eye on it in either case. You can visit the Database entry linked below for additional information. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum thread or leave a comment at the bottom of this page.
