Darke Hall reopens its doors to the public with a new look

The University of Regina unveiled the refurbished and restored Darke Hall to the public on Thursday.

The historic building first opened in 1929, hosting events by the Regina Symphony Orchestra, the Regina Music Festival and the Regina Light Opera Theatre.

Restoration plans were announced for the building in October 2019 with construction work beginning not long after.

Architect Kate Jackson was one of the team members behind the renovations. She got to see some of her finished work for the first time.

“I was away for a month and a half so this is a special reveal for me,” Jackson said. “I think it’s going to be an amazing little jewel box of a concert venue for the city and for all kinds of multiple acts that come in.

“I can’t wait to see how it’s used.”

The restoration work preserves the heritage building’s historic look and feel while introducing state-of-the-art technology and functionality.

Architect James Youck described this project as “special.”

“It feels like this is a little bit of a time capsule now,” Youck said as he gazed around the theatre. “This building feels vibrant like it’s ready to face the next 50 years.

“It’s one of the historical gems in Regina and we don’t have a lot of them when it comes right down to it. This has been a real privilege for our whole team.”

The total cost for the restoration work to Darke Hall was around $18.5 million.

Modern accessibility, mechanical, theatrical, electrical and HVAC systems were developed while restoring the glass, the floor and refurbishing elements of what the building looked like in 1929.

The university has reached an agreement with the Darke Hall Society, a local non-profit that will be responsible for the day-to-day operations including bookings and maintenance of the building.

Pictures of the space can be viewed in the gallery below.