CENTENNIAL CONCERT HALL ENVELOPE RESTORATION

The Centennial Concert Hall, located at 555 Main Street in Winnipeg, Manitoba, is one of the city’s most iconic buildings. Designed by a consortium of architectural firms – Green Blankenstein Russell and Associates, Moody and Moore, and Smith Carter Searle – it was constructed between 1966 and 1968 as part of the Province of Manitoba’s centennial celebrations.

The landmark building is a notable example of Modernist architecture within Winnipeg’s Exchange District, a National Historic Site. Its façade is primarily composed of Manitoba Tyndall Stone, which received Global Heritage Stone Resource designation in 2023, along with grey exposed-aggregate precast concrete. The original design did not incorporate control joints to accommodate movement or manage moisture. As a result, Winnipeg’s harsh climate and freeze-thaw cycles led to deterioration of the building envelope, including corrosion of shelf angles and subsequent stone spalling, necessitating significant remedial work.

Two of the project’s most significant challenges involved accommodating increased insulation thickness – requiring the entire building envelope to effectively grow outward – and introducing horizontal control joints while maintaining the building’s modern, monolithic façade. Led by Michael Acht, the project team undertook extensive detail refinement, increasing vertical reveals at precise locations and developing a kerfed joint with concealed through-wall flashing, all while respecting the integrity of the original design.

Throughout the 10-year project, the building remained occupied. Approximately 80% of the building envelope was restored, along with selected interior restoration work. Ultimately, about 30% of the original stone was found to be fractured and required replacement. Gillis Quarries successfully sourced matching stone from the original quarry in Garson, Manitoba, and, with Alpha Masonry’s craftsmanship, seamlessly integrated the new stone into the façade. The completed work reflects the project team’s collective commitment and will extend the life of one of Winnipeg’s most important Modernist public buildings.

Michael was the Partner in Charge from the project’s pursuit in 2015 through its completion in 2025 while at Cibinel Architecture.

Client / Government of Manitoba, CPPD
Location / 555 Main Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Architectural / Cibinel Architecture
Michael Acht Role / Partner in Charge
Building Area / 105 000 SF
Cost / $20m
Completed / 2025

Construction Manager / Bockstael Construction
Mason / Alpha Masonry
Building Envelope / Crosier Kilgour
Structural / Crosier Kilgour
Mechanical / Epp Siepman Engineering
Electrical / Epp Siepman Engineering

Awards / 2024 Heritage Winnipeg Preservation Award for Excellence

Press /
https://heritagewinnipeg.com/
https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/

Photo Credit / Lindsay Reid Photography