Known for pushing limits to new extremes in the world of extravagant venues, the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts is critically acclaimed worldwide.
(Arnold C / Wikipedia)
Despite the sheer amount the Chan Centre has to offer, it only took two years for it to be constructed. That said, the construction was funded by various wealthy groups, including the following: Telus, the Chan Foundation of Canada, and the Royal Bank Financial group. Not to be outdone was the provinces government, who matched funds from each group listed above.
Opening back in 1997, the building is almost 30 years old, making it one of the youngest to be covered thus far.
For context: Vancouver’s oldest venue, the Orpheum, was built back in 1927. That makes it almost 100 years old!
In that relatively brief time, the Chan Centre has made itself known for being a multi-faceted facility. Offering more then it’s well known Chan Shun Concert Hall, it is also home to the Telus Studio Theatre and Royal Bank Cinema. All these spaces come together to make the Chan Centre as special as it is and give a vibrant space for performers of any genre and type of art a place to make their own.
From an architectural standpoint, the entire building from top to bottom is a feast for the eyes. For a feat such as this, it took architects from Bing Thom Architects, ARTEC Consultants of New York, and the Theatre Projects Consultants to put the full design together.
The Chan Centre’s pride and joy, the Chan Shun Concert Hall, is a prime example of the beauty. It’s only fair that a venue is a beautiful as the performances inhabiting it, no? The design itself was inspired by the cello, primarily through its curved walls made of blond maple. The curves allow for sound to be evenly distributed, alongside specifically placed concrete walls, the sound can be reflected cleanly and without a disruptive echo. The concert hall, despite its impressive 1185 seats, keeps an intimate aura about it. It allows guests to feel impossibly close to those performing on stage, which helps create timeless memories and stories to be retold for years to come.