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After turning its back on its waterfront for years, the City of Guelph is now attracting people back to the Speed River. The River Run Centre is located on an irregularly-shaped stretch of land that was formerly a rail yard and the site of Guelph's very first building erected in 1827. A severe constraint of the site is the floodplain which extends a considerable distance beyond the water's edge. The design strategy for the new building was to engage it in a dialogue with the river and nearby Allan's Bridge which leads to the downtown.

To achieve this, the most extroverted of the spaces - the reception hall - is oriented towards the river and bridge. In the spacious 24-foot-high reception hall, with its broad expanses of glass, patrons can linger before performances, take in a sweeping view of the river, and, on summer evenings, spill out into the riverside park. For residents on the opposite shore and motorists crossing the bridge, the reception hall suggests a community living room enlivened by a flow of people up and down the staircase to the musicians' gallery and balcony seating.

Inside the main theatre, a feeling of intimacy reinforces the sense of community that is so important to the experience of attending live performances. The theatre's fairly modest dimensions are enhanced by the warmth of materials borrowed from musical instruments: stained wood and brass railings enclose the balconies; balustrades and seat backs are wood. Purple upholstery lends an air of richness and luxury.

The limited budget of this community theatre called for an approach that would rely upon well-tested, reliable methods and be economical to operate in terms of time and labour. The River Run Centre was designed to accommodate a wide range of attractions including theatrical performances, touring shows, and the annual Guelph Spring Festival which presents the finest in classical vocal and instrumental music from around the world. The acoustical design combines modern acoustical features with the best characteristics of a "shoebox" hall: boxes line the side walls to create the intimate U-shape of traditional opera houses and every seat in the house has excellent sightlines.

The stage has a moveable orchestra pit that can be raised to form a stage apron. The curtains are carefully integrated with the architecture to present a unified appearance on all occasions.

Link:
+ River Run Centre Site