MacKinnon Building Renovations

This transformative 45,000 sq. ft. renovation modernized the historic 1967 MacKinnon Building, located at the heart of the University of Guelph campus. The project revitalized academic, performance, and student spaces while maintaining full building operations throughout construction.

At the centre of the renewal is the creation of a new 160-seat black box theatre, known as the ImprovLab — a flexible, publicly accessible space designed for research, performance, and teaching. This addition fulfilled the building’s original vision for a central theatre and established a cutting-edge venue for the School of Fine Art and Music.

The renovation also included:

• Construction of a new main entrance and reconfigured student gathering areas.
• Restoration of the George Luscombe Theatre to a black box performance space.
• Addition of five new music practice rooms with enhanced acoustical performance.
• Accessibility upgrades, including a new elevator and barrier-free entrances.
• Exterior enclosure renewal, featuring roof restoration, new curtainwall, precast and aluminum composite panels, and improved daylighting through a light, neutral colour palette.
• Theatre and performance infrastructure installation, including stage rigging, textiles, and specialty flooring.
• Mechanical and electrical system upgrades to support modern performance and learning environments.
• Landscaping improvements, including the redesign of the existing courtyard into a welcoming open space.