Location:

Edmonton, AB

Architect:

Group 2

Timeline:

2017-2018

Building size:

14,637 SF

Disciplines:

Mechanical
Electrical
Structural
Civil
Energy Modelling

Discipline Leads:

The Roxy Theatre

Redesigning and revitalizing a landmark theater and a major part of Edmonton’s booming arts and culture scene.

The Roxy Theatre, once a key part of Edmonton’s diverse entertainment and artistic scene, was destroyed in a fire on January 13th, 2015. Generous public fundraising and government funding made it possible to rebuild and redesign The Roxy, making it bigger and better than ever before. With the theatre meaning so much to Edmonton’s artistic community and the public at large, Arrow Engineering was overjoyed at the opportunity to take part in the theatre’s redesign and reconstruction.

Originally opened in 1938, the Roxy Theatre, or The Roxy to locals, immediately became a hotspot for Hollywood’s latest and greatest movies. While it was popular because of its diverse lineup of movie offerings, the theatre became popular because of its comfortable and spacious seating arrangements, and for its air conditioning – a rare but welcome feature for the period. Eventually, the Roxy fell under the banner of Odeon Theatres of Canada, and later to other cinema chains. In 1989, the theatre was sold to the Theatre Network, who transformed it into a popular venue for live theatre. With the Roxy’s destruction in 2015, the Edmonton theatre and art community have lost a cherished performance space, and business on 124th Street and 107th Avenue came to a standstill.

With the aim of redesigning a new and improved hub of Edmonton’s theatre and art community, Arrow Engineering’s team of mechanical, electrical, structural, and civil engineers went to work in designing the new theatre, and offering expert consultation services. The reconstructed Roxy Theatre was designed to include three new performance spaces to allow local artists to flourish and perform comfortably.

The revitalized Roxy Theatre has been designed to include a main theatre that will seat 200 people, a smaller 100-seat theatre, as well as a rehearsal hall for performers and administration and support areas to round out the facility and allow it to once again become a hub of Edmonton’s arts and culture scene. In addition to design and consultation, the Arrow team provided energy modelling services for the new Roxy Theatre.