Permanent main stage planned for Officers' Square

Fredericton is getting a permanent main stage athistoric Officers' Square as part of an$8.9 million makeoverof the downtown space.

The stage will cost $400,000 and be made of cortensteel, also known as a weathering steel because it rusts in the elements and forms a protective outer layer.

"We wanted to find an element that's both recyclable and durable, but beautiful," said architect MonicaAdair of Acre Architects.

She said thesteel will age well and look good with other buildings in the area.

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The stage will be built next to the Fredericton Region Museum, with the library behind it.

"The way it rusts and patinas over time gives it texture that blends in with the brick buildings and juxtaposes against the stone in a way that brings it to life," Adair said of the steel.

The steel is perforated to give the stage good acoustics andmake it visually interesting at night.

"It creates optical illusions in terms of a moir pattern, and it also has a light passage in between giving it a little bit of a light show during the night," Adairsaid.

The stage will work for both small and large shows, she said.

Master plan

Coun. Bruce Grandy, thechair of the planning and development committee, said the upgrade of Officers' Square, which was announced earlier this year, is important consideringall the events that take place there.

"We wanted to reconstruct Officers' Square to make it vibrant, to make it more accessible," said Grandy.

"The plan is to create this great space, this great meeting space, this great event space for festivals."

Grandy said there will still be a tent in the square for the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival. The newstage will be an additional venue.

Flood-proofing

A short time ago, the area where the stage would be was underwater. But Acre partner Stephen Kopp said the architects have already planned for such calamities.

The stage will be built up above high-water levels, so next time there is a major flood, musicians could serenade the fishwithout getting their feet wet.

"There is now way to flood-proof the structure, but we have planned in accordance with high-water marks," said Kopp.

"The stage actual height is going to be at 9.32 metres. I think this year's flood was in the
mid-eights."

The base will be made of stone, and Kopp said electrical equipment can be easily flood-proofed.

Construction of the stage will happen next year.