FAQ

frequently asked questions

What's the budget?
How long will it take?
Why is the project necessary?
When do you reopen? When is opening night?
Where is the money coming from?
Why are you fundraising?
How can I be involved?
What is being worked on?
What other features will make the Hall more physically accessible for seniors and persons with disabilities?
Why two new elevators?
What about the wall of names in the halfway up the current steps?
What environmental efforts are being made?
How will the performance space be improved?
Is anything going to stay the same?
What about the heritage aspects of the building - and the ambience?
When did this process start?
If the entrance is going to be under the clock tower where will the stage be?
Will the number of fixed seats be the same as now?
Are you competing with Showplace?
.Who’s doing the work?
Who’s managing the construction?
Who are the architects?
Who will run the new facility?
What is the mission of the organization?
Are you running drama camps this summer?

answers

What's the budget?
$9.7 million.

How long will it take?
The project is scheduled to take 50 weeks.

Why is the project necessary?
After 25 years of continuous use as an arts and cultural centre, the Market Hall is, quite literally, worn out. The facility is unable to accommodate audiences comfortably, the equipment and backstage facilities for artists has slipped below professional standards, and there it is not handicap accessible.

As for the building itself, when City Council voted in 1997 to buy back the property from the private developer who owned the building, it was recognized at the time that significant investment would have to be made to stabilize and preserve the building. Since then, the necessary work on the exterior, including the clock tower and the storefronts, has been proceeding in phases.

The current funding allows for a comprehensive restoration that will address outstanding issues both in the exterior and the interior of the Hall and retrofit a brand new performing arts centre.

When do you reopen? When is opening night?
We expect to move back into the Hall in March 2011.

We are going to have a few ‘opening nights’. All of you who have ever supported the Market Hall, as a member or as audience or a campaign donor will be invited to some special complimentary “opening nights” to celebrate. Be prepared, though, these will be trial runs – anything could happen, but if you don’t mind a great night out in return for being a bit of a guinea pig – mark your calendars for March 2011!!

Please make sure that you are on our email list or Facebook group or follow us on Twitter to get your invitation and get project updates as they happen.

Where is the money coming from?
The funding is from the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund. The project budget is divided equally between the federal, the provincial and the municipal government.

Why are you fundraising?
The City of Peterborough has requested that Market Hall Performing Arts make a contribution to the municipal share of the budget of $700,000.

We have set a goal of $1.2 million which will allow us to meet our financial obligation to the City as well as give us an opportunity to establish an arts endowment fund - a legacy to ensure the future stability of the organization.

How can I be involved?
We would love to have you involved:
• You can volunteer to work on the fundraising campaign.
• You can make a donation.
• You can come to the special fundraising events that are happening all year.
• You can spread the word, tell your friends, ask them to donate You can do ALL of the above!!
• call Karen or Bill at (705)749-1146 to find out more. We need people to do window displays, stuff envelopes, organize events, etc. etc. etc.

What is being worked on?
There will be a new roof (with insulation) plus new heating, sprinkler, plumbing and electrical systems. The lobby will have new washrooms (with more capacity for women and men), a bar, and great views in three directions: east, south and west. The vacant south end third floor will become administration offices. The auditorium will have new seats, 2 balconies running down each side of the space, a new sprung floor, a retractable stage, all new sound and light equipment and new window coverings. There will be two new elevators. The backstage area is more artist friendly, with real dressing rooms with heat and light and showers. We are also pleased that the backstage is much more physically accessible for artists with disabilities.

What other features will make the Hall more physically accessible for seniors and persons with disabilities?
The design team is working with the Council for Persons with Disabilities to ensure that wherever possible, the design meets or exceeds minimum standards. These are some of the features that we have given special consideration to, under theguidance of the Council:
• High contrast signage within the facility
• A universal toilet room (family washroom)
• Elevator with permanently lit signage and buttons
• Stage and dressing rooms on the same grade
• Accessible backstage washroom
• Hearing assist system in the auditorium
• Integrated wheelchair seating
• Administration offices will be serviced by the elevator

Why two new elevators?
There will be a new passenger elevator built at the south (clock tower) end of the building to bring audience members up to the main lobby and the performance hall. There will be an elevator installed in the backstage area for artists, stage crew and loading in equipment.

What about the wall of names in the halfway up the current steps?
The mural is ceramic, commissioned by Artspace in 1985 from Jeannie McRight, and recognizes the financial contributions that made the project that turned the Hall from a badminton court to a multi functional arts centre. Unfortunately, the mural cannot be moved without destroying it. It will be preserved and will be visible to anyone accessing the north end of the building. We are protecting it with specialized hoarding during the construction. The names have been captured and will recognized in the public area of the Hall when we re-open.

What environmental efforts are being made?
In any structure, the vast majority of heat loss occurs through the roof, the foundation and through air leaks. It is never advisable to attempt to insulate an old building such that the walls cannot ‘breathe’ because moisture trapped in the bricks can do irreparable damage.

Therefore, the roof is being replaced and insulation will be added (for the first time ever) and the building will be draught proofed, particularly around the foundation and the windows.

The architects are sourcing low emission wall and floor finishings, manufactured with recycled materials wherever possible.

There will be zoned heating areas, allowing for greater efficiency and cost savings. Similarly, the hot water heating will be zoned. The newly installed heating and cooling systems are high efficiency, as are the theatre lighting and sound systems.

The demolition process has vigorous waste streaming measures and material will be diverted from landfill for reusing, recycling or reselling wherever possible.

How will the performance space be improved?
There are almost too many things to list, but here are a few highlights….
• The auditorium will be ‘sound and light locked’ which means that you will no longer hear the noises and see chinks of lights from the lobby during a quiet performance.
• The acoustics will be improved – particularly for spoken word performances.
• The fixed seats will be on a steeper rake, giving greatly improved sightlines.

Is anything going to stay the same?
The Market Hall will continue to be an incubator for new and emerging artists, and will continue to welcome everyone in the community to hold and attend events here. Our Innovation Fund, which offers financial assistance to groups wishing to rent or rehearse in the space, will continue.

The flexibility of the seating will remain, as will the liquor license that allows you to take a glass of wine to your seat (we’re adding cup holders, too). We will still be able to set up the room in a variety of configurations, including the cabaret format, with table seating for some of the audience, which makes the Hall so unique.

We will still have community based events in the Hall, as well as the regular music, dance and theatre performances from local, professional and touring artists.

What about the heritage aspects of the building - and the ambience?
The bones of the building are historically protected – the brickwork, windows, the clock tower etc. All of this remains immutable.

The new design will preserve and highlight the heritage and architectural features of the building – currently the magnificent beams are obscured by numerous catwalks and heating ducts. Many of the windows are covered with plywood or curtains. These will all be brought back to prominence by the renovation.

The new Hall will certainly look different – it will be a blend of old and new. How it ‘feels’ – well, we’ll have to wait and see.

When did this process start?
We began planning to improve the Market Hall experience in 2004 and we asked a lot of people what works (and what doesn’t) at the current Market Hall – and we listened to the answers. The design for the new Hall addresses the many concerns that we heard. We are pleased to report that we have received universal approval from our regular users and audience members regarding the new design and layout.

If the entrance is going to be under the clock tower where will the stage be?
The performance space will be turned around. The stage is currently at the south end of the building with the seating facing it. In the new arrangement the stage will be roughly where the current seating is and the new seating will be at the south end facing north.

Will the number of fixed seats be the same as now?
At present there are 118 fixed seats in six rows. In the new layout there will be 192 seats in 12 rows plus 24 balcony seats. The new seats will be more comfortable and there will be more leg room. The seats will be built on a solid concrete rise, so that they are stable and secure.

We listened to the feedback about the seats (from those of you who tried the sample seats in the lobby) and we chose… well, you’ll just have to wait and see…

Are you competing with Showplace?
Research shows that Market Hall and Showplace complement each other perfectly now and in the future. Showplace has 650 fixed seats with classic proscenium stage. Market Hall is and will be a flexible configuration for audiences from 50 to 350.

We are expanding our shared Box Office system (more to come on that subject) and will continue to refer clients to each other. We enjoy a great working relationship with the staff and volunteers at Showplace.

Who’s doing the work?
The General Contractor is J.J. Maguire from Pickering, ON., as selected through the City of Peterborough’s tendering process.

Who’s managing the construction?
Mary Gallop, Manager of Facilities and Special Projects with the City of Peterborough is the Project Manager. City Council voted unanimously to also appoint a Construction Project Manager – who will be onsite and overseeing the project on a daily basis.

Who are the architects?
Architects: Bill Lett Architects and Ken Trevelyan Architects
Design Team includes: Richard Smerdon (theatre consultant) and Richard O’Keefe (acoustician)

Who will run the new facility?
Market Hall Performing Arts Centre Inc. will continue to lease the facility from the City and operate it. We are an independent not-for-profit charitable organization that has been the management company since 1998.

What is the mission of the organization?
Our mission is to develop, nurture and sustain the performing arts in Peterborough’s historic Market Hall.

Are you running drama camps this summer?
Yes! We are running a full roster of our popular performing arts camps. Most camps will be held at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, located on Water Street in downtown Peterborough. This spacious facility has a raised stage with theatrical lighting and will offer an experience for campers similar to what they would get at the Market Hall. Music Camp will be held at Sadleir House. This year we've made it easier to register with an online form and more payment options. Check for details...