Conexus Arts Centre
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 Conexus Arts Centre | |
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| Former names | Saskatchewan Centre of the Arts |
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| Location | 200A Lakeshore Drive Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada |
| Coordinates | 50°25′42.01″N 104°35′52.41″W / 50.4283361°N 104.5978917°W |
| Type | Performing arts center |
| Capacity | 2031 |
| Opened | August 24, 1970 |
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| Conexus Arts Centre | |
The Conexus Arts Centre, known from 1970 till 2006 (and still largely known) as the Saskatchewan Centre of the Arts, is a theatre complex located within Wascana Centre in Regina, Saskatchewan. Constructed to commemorate the Canadian Centennial in 1967, it was opened by Governor General Roland Michener on August 24, 1970 to serve southern Saskatchewan as a centre for performing arts and exhibitions as well as university functions by the adjacent University of Regina.
The building, designed by Izumi, Arnott, and Sucijama, is an Estevan brick and Manitoba Tyndall stone structure which houses Main Theatre (seating 2031), formerly known as Shirley Bell Theatre; Convention Hall (seating 1600), previously known as Doris Knight Hall, Hanbidge Hall and Jubilee Theatre; and various conference rooms and lobby display areas. Main Theatre, with three balconies, has a large stage whose front lowers hydraulically to form an orchestra pit for 100 musicians. The centre is the home of the Regina Symphony Orchestra.
Although the building was intended as a Canadian centennial project for 1967, it was not opened until August 24, 1970 at a cost of $7.7 million. The reason for the delay was due to an overheated construction industry and rising construction costs. With additional finances unavailable, the steel structure sat for almost two years with a large sign in front posted by local wags, "world's largest monkey bars"; ultimately it was completed after drastic reductions in the original plans, replacing the called-for Vermont marble with Estevan brick, among other cutbacks. Home of the Regina Symphony Orchestra and once of the Globe Theatre before it relocated to the Old Post Office downtown, the Arts Centre has hosted University of Regina a vast range of world-famous performers, from its beginging national and international drama, comedy and classical music, from at the very outset Van Cliburn through Monty Python’s Flying Circus.
Located on Lakeshore Drive east of the Broad Street Bridge within Wascana Centre, the Saskatchewan Centre of the Arts was renamed the Conexus Arts Centre on January 5, 2006 when the Conexus Credit Union (formerly the Sherwood Credit Union) took over the underwriting of part of its operating budget. The Centre is useful for meetings, special events, seminars, trade shows, receptions and banquets; it alternates hosting duties for Telemiracle with TCU Place (formerly the Centennial Auditorium) in Saskatoon.
The custom has arisen of renaming its auditoriums at regular intervals for prominent persons of the moment. Hanbidge Hall, for example, has been renamed many times, though Reginans cling to the original name.
The Arts Centre is now named after Conexus Credit Union.