Chan Centre for the Performing Arts
Bing Thom's cylindrical concert hall on the UBC campus, known for its adjustable acoustics.
The Chan Centre opened in May 1997 on the western edge of the University of British Columbia campus, funded largely by a gift from the Chan family. Bing Thom wrapped the complex in a zinc-clad drum set among trees, with a curved glass lobby that looks out to the surrounding woodland. The building contains three venues: the 1,185-seat Chan Shun Concert Hall, the flexible Telus Studio Theatre in the round, and the Royal Bank Cinema.
The concert hall was designed with Artec Consultants and is acoustically adjustable, with a movable canopy and reverberation chambers that let the room suit unamplified orchestral music, chamber recitals, amplified world music and spoken word. Alongside concerts by UBC's school of music ensembles, the centre runs its own presenting series covering jazz, global music, contemporary electronic work and author talks, and the hall is widely used for recording.
Highlights
- 1,185-seat Chan Shun Concert Hall with adjustable acoustics
- Zinc-clad drum set among trees on the UBC campus
- Telus Studio Theatre, a flexible in-the-round space
- Presenting series of jazz, global music and author talks
