The City of Kamloops has laid out its timeline for the construction of the Kamloops Centre for the Arts.

Vendors have now been chosen for the new downtown facility, which is expected to cost more than $150 million, with the city approved to borrow up to $140 million.

The KCA will include an 1,100-seat theatre, a 450-seat theatre, rehearsal space, education space, underground parking, community space, and storage for the Kamloops Art Gallery. That will be built on top of the parking lot at 393 Seymour St., which the city owns.

The project is expected to break ground in the fall, with the foundation being installed sometime in 2026, the building envelope completed in 2027, finishing work in 2028 and completion in 2029.

According to a news release from the city, the team of companies behind the KCA includes Station One Architects and Clark Builders as architect and general contractor, Collins Steel, Westcana, Interior Plumbing and Heating and Kerr as builders, and Rocky Point Engineering, Aercoustics, MCW Consultants, WSP and Fast+Epp as designers. True Consulting and DWD Theatre Design and Consulting are also involved in the project.

The project’s final design will be presented to council sometime this fall, after which the team behind the project can start construction.

Related work began in July, with sanitary sewer upgrade work on 4th Avenue. That work is expected to continue until the fall.

Arena multiplex gains library

Meanwhile, another project that was approved alongside the arts centre has received a minor addition. The city now plans to add a library branch to the arena multiplex project in the Dufferin neighbourhood.

“Bringing a library into a recreation space demonstrates our commitment to innovation and serving residents in new and meaningful ways,” said Coun. Kelly Hall in a news release.

The multiplex will provide up to four additional ice rinks for the city and will use about $135 million in borrowed funds.

Construction at 2070 Hillside Dr. is expected to begin in 2026.