Sign In
Back to Home

CASA (Community Arts Centre)

​Current Status Complete
​Timeline ​Design: May 2010 - Jan 2011, Tender Feb 2011, Construction: May 2011 - May 2013
​Location ​3rd Avenue & 8th Street South

 

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The new Community Arts Centre will be approximately 4,125 sq. m. This will create functional programming space in support of Community Arts Education. The facility is intended to serve as a gathering place for the Arts Community in Lethbridge and an exciting and valued presence for the University Of Lethbridge (U of L) Conservatory Of Music in the downtown core.
 

PROJECT UPDATES

May 14, 2013 - Gr​and Opening of the new facility was May, 14, 2013.
 
February 4, 2013 - The new home for arts in Lethbridge officially has a name. City Council has approved a recommendation that the new downtown community arts centre be named CASA, based on the Latin term for home. CASA is the new home not only for users of the Bowman Arts Centre but also for a diverse mix of other visual and performing artists throughout our community. It will be a place where all members of our arts community can call home, regardless of their age, skill level or arts discipline.
 

BACKGROUND

At present Community Arts programs are held at the Bowman Arts Centre. This facility is no longer large enough to accommodate the various programs offered, and requires significant investments to improve its condition.  As a result the construction of a new Community Arts Centre was approved in the 2011 – 2020 CIP. A functional program was developed for the Community Arts Centre and the former IGA store site on 3rd Avenue South between 7th and 8th Street was chosen, as the user groups had expressed a strong desire to stay in the downtown.  The University of Lethbridge Conservatory was added as a user group during the schematic design and programming.  Ferrari Westwood Babits Architects in association with Pendergast Nyhoff Architecture were retained to complete the detailed design and provide tendering and construction services for this project.  The project has been tendered and Dawson Wallace Construction has been hired as the Prime Contractor.

 

SCOPE/DELIVERABLES

The new facility will accommodate; Exhibition gallery and prep space, 2D and 3D Classrooms and Studios, Kiln Room, 3D Tech Room and Woodworking Workshop, Textile Studio, Dance Studio, Music Theatre and Music Rehearsal Studio, Dressing Rooms, Meeting Rooms, Administration Space, Multipurpose Rehearsal Space, University of Lethbridge Conservatory Music Classroom and University of Lethbridge Conservatory Music Practice Rooms.

The Centre is envisioned to function seven days a week, year round with programs occurring during the day, in the evenings, and on weekends. 
 
The design will include environmentally sustainable building features where feasible.
 

OUTCOMES/EXPECTED RESULTS

Construction of a new Community Arts Centre will replace the existing Bowman Arts Centre and include the University of Lethbridge Conservatory offering musical instruction to a variety of Southern Alberta residents from kindergarten to senior citizens.

 

 

02 Power Duct Bank installationhttps://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/Projects-Initiatives/Current-Projects/Community Arts Centre/02 Power Duct Bank installation.jpg02 Power Duct Bank installation
03 Sept 9, 2011 011https://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/Projects-Initiatives/Current-Projects/Community Arts Centre/03 Sept 9, 2011 011.jpg03 Sept 9, 2011 011
04 Oct 4, 2011 018https://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/Projects-Initiatives/Current-Projects/Community Arts Centre/04 Oct 4, 2011 018.jpg04 Oct 4, 2011 018
05 Oct 5, 2011 001https://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/Projects-Initiatives/Current-Projects/Community Arts Centre/05 Oct 5, 2011 001.jpg05 Oct 5, 2011 001
07 Oct 12, 2011 009https://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/Projects-Initiatives/Current-Projects/Community Arts Centre/07 Oct 12, 2011 009.jpg07 Oct 12, 2011 009
08 Oct 14, 2011 004https://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/Projects-Initiatives/Current-Projects/Community Arts Centre/08 Oct 14, 2011 004.jpg08 Oct 14, 2011 004
09 Oct 21, 2011 001https://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/Projects-Initiatives/Current-Projects/Community Arts Centre/09 Oct 21, 2011 001.jpg09 Oct 21, 2011 001
10 Oct 21, 2011 004https://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/Projects-Initiatives/Current-Projects/Community Arts Centre/10 Oct 21, 2011 004.jpg10 Oct 21, 2011 004
11 Oct 21, 2011 033https://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/Projects-Initiatives/Current-Projects/Community Arts Centre/11 Oct 21, 2011 033.jpg11 Oct 21, 2011 033
12 Oct 21, 2011 036https://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/Projects-Initiatives/Current-Projects/Community Arts Centre/12 Oct 21, 2011 036.jpg12 Oct 21, 2011 036
13 Dec 1, 2011 003https://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/Projects-Initiatives/Current-Projects/Community Arts Centre/13 Dec 1, 2011 003.jpg13 Dec 1, 2011 003
14 Dec 1, 2011 005https://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/Projects-Initiatives/Current-Projects/Community Arts Centre/14 Dec 1, 2011 005.jpg14 Dec 1, 2011 005
15 Dec 21, 2011 003https://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/Projects-Initiatives/Current-Projects/Community Arts Centre/15 Dec 21, 2011 003.jpg15 Dec 21, 2011 003
16 Dec 21, 2011 005https://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/Projects-Initiatives/Current-Projects/Community Arts Centre/16 Dec 21, 2011 005.jpg16 Dec 21, 2011 005
17 Dec 21, 2011 006https://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/Projects-Initiatives/Current-Projects/Community Arts Centre/17 Dec 21, 2011 006.jpg17 Dec 21, 2011 006
18 Dec 21, 2011 013https://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/Projects-Initiatives/Current-Projects/Community Arts Centre/18 Dec 21, 2011 013.jpg18 Dec 21, 2011 013
19 Jan 5, 2012 005https://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/Projects-Initiatives/Current-Projects/Community Arts Centre/19 Jan 5, 2012 005.jpg19 Jan 5, 2012 005
20 June 26, 2012 017https://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/Projects-Initiatives/Current-Projects/Community Arts Centre/20 June 26, 2012 017.jpg20 June 26, 2012 017
21 June 26, 2012 020https://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/Projects-Initiatives/Current-Projects/Community Arts Centre/21 June 26, 2012 020.jpg21 June 26, 2012 020
22 une 26, 2012 021https://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/Projects-Initiatives/Current-Projects/Community Arts Centre/22 une 26, 2012 021.jpg22 une 26, 2012 021
23 June 26, 2012 024https://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/Projects-Initiatives/Current-Projects/Community Arts Centre/23 June 26, 2012 024.jpg23 June 26, 2012 024
24 June 26, 2012 031https://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/Projects-Initiatives/Current-Projects/Community Arts Centre/24 June 26, 2012 031.jpg24 June 26, 2012 031
25 June 26, 2012 033https://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/Projects-Initiatives/Current-Projects/Community Arts Centre/25 June 26, 2012 033.jpg25 June 26, 2012 033
26 June 26, 2012 035https://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/Projects-Initiatives/Current-Projects/Community Arts Centre/26 June 26, 2012 035.jpg26 June 26, 2012 035
CASA Feb 2013https://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/Projects-Initiatives/Current-Projects/Community Arts Centre/CASA Feb 2013.JPGCASA Feb 2013
CASA2 Feb 2013https://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/Projects-Initiatives/Current-Projects/Community Arts Centre/CASA2 Feb 2013.JPGCASA2 Feb 2013
CASA3 Feb 2013https://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/Projects-Initiatives/Current-Projects/Community Arts Centre/CASA3 Feb 2013.JPGCASA3 Feb 2013
CASA4 Feb 2013https://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/Projects-Initiatives/Current-Projects/Community Arts Centre/CASA4 Feb 2013.JPGCASA4 Feb 2013
Opening 1https://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/Projects-Initiatives/Current-Projects/Community Arts Centre/Opening 1.jpgOpening 1
Opening 2https://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/Projects-Initiatives/Current-Projects/Community Arts Centre/Opening 2.jpgOpening 2
Opening 3https://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/Projects-Initiatives/Current-Projects/Community Arts Centre/Opening 3.jpgOpening 3
Opening 4https://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/Projects-Initiatives/Current-Projects/Community Arts Centre/Opening 4.jpgOpening 4
Opening 5https://www.lethbridge.ca/living-here/Projects-Initiatives/Current-Projects/Community Arts Centre/Opening 5.jpgOpening 5

Funding

 

​Source ​Amount
​City of Lethbridge ​$200,000
​Grant - MSI (Municipal Sustainability Initiative) ​$14,530,000
​Grant - BCF (Building Canada Fund) ​$6,000,000
​Total ​$20,730,000.00​

 

Contact Information

Project Manager:
Patrick Spanos, B. Mgt., P.L.(Eng)
Building Project Manager
City of Lethbridge
patrick.spanos@lethbridge.ca 

Consultants:
Ferrari Westwood Babits Architects
Lethbridge, AB

Pendergast Nyhoff Collaborative Architecture
Calgary, AB

Building Tenant
Suzanne Lint
Executive Director, Allied Arts Council of Lethbridge
suzanne@artslethbridge.org 

Building Tenant
Claire Hatton
Education & Facility Manager, Bowman Arts Centre
claire@artslethbridge.org 

Building Tenant
Margaret Mezei, M. Mus.
Director, Conservatory of Music, University of Lethbridge
mezei@uleth.ca 

Community Arts Steering Committee
Kim Siever, Steering Committee Chair
kim.siever@gmail.com