The Saint John Theatre Company has revealed their proposed redesign for the historic Sydney Street Courthouse as a multi-purpose performance and event venue. The design, which incorporates modern elements into the building’s neoclassical architecture, was submitted today to the City of Saint John’s Heritage Review Board.
Built in 1825, the courthouse holds two particular distinctions: located immediately adjacent to the Sydney Street No 2. Fire Engine House, it was one of the very few buildings to survive the Great Fire of Saint John in 1877, and the building’s stone spiral staircase famously graces the cover of a math textbook.
The courthouse, however, does not have a fire-proof history. In 1919 the building was gutted by another fire. The interior was restored by 1925, and used the Provincial Law Courts until 2013.
Since 2016, SJTC has been exploring the option of employing the building to expand their programming, as well as an event venue, and home to the Atlantic Repertory Company (ARC) and other community groups. The transfer of ownership of the courthouse from the province to the SJTC was finalized in early 2020.
“The Courthouse is essentially a 100-year-old steel structure housed within 200-year-old stone walls,” said Tobias. “We have spent extensive time and effort over 2020 in an almost forensic analysis of this extremely complex structure. We are confident that our diligence has resulted in a plan that is highly functional, that represents state-of-the-art theatre design, that is future-focussed, inspiring and welcoming – but that is also deeply respectful of the heritage of this beautiful building.”
Working with the design firms of EXP Architects and Avant Garde Construction Management, SJTC has arrived at a prosed design that would double the current footprint of the building.
“We have worked in consultation with a wide variety of stakeholders over the course of this process and there are tremendous synergies and opportunities created for us all through this venue,” says Tobias.
The theatre company says they are working closely with the Heritage Review Board to meet the standards of the Trinity Royal Heritage Preserve — largely relating to the building’s façade —while the interior of the proposed event space will be receiving several contemporary upgrades.
The proposed re-design will be able to accommodate three simultaneous events, with a performance theatre that can hold 220+ seats, along with flexible configurations, a new box office, patron elevator, backstage, dressing, rehearsal and administrative spaces, receiving area and freight elevator, a lobby café with catering options. and an additional small studio rehearsal and performance venue.
“Once we know that the design proposal is green-lighted by the Board, we will undertake a detailed costing exercise,” says Tobias. “We need to make sure we can balance this plan to light up the corner of King and Sydney Street with our ability to mobilize community support.”
“Work on this project has advanced steadily even when much of the world shut down in 2020,” said Board President George Daniel. “The SJTC building committee has met weekly for almost the entirety of 2020, working closely with the design and construction team. The Board is extremely grateful for the commitment of these volunteers and of our team of contractors. We feel confident that the design submitted to the Heritage Review Board is solid. In addition to breathing new life into a cherished building, it will be a stellar performance venue, unrivalled in Atlantic Canada.”
The SJTC note that not all of the required funding has been raised has yet been raised, but are hoping that having the new design available to the public will spark new interest and support from the community.