The Ron & Erma Hawkes Centre Celebrates its Topping Off

Securing the final beam of the Ron & Erma Hawkes Centre for the Performing Arts marks a major milestone for Fredericton. It is a moment where months of effort, precision, and coordination become visible, signaling meaningful progress toward the city’s future performing arts home. With more than 125,000 labour hours already invested, the project is moving from concept to reality.

“For EllisDon, this milestone is a testament to the skill, dedication, and coordination of every team on site,” said Shaun Stiles, Senior Vice President and Area Manager, Halifax. “The precision behind each element and the care put into every connection reflect the expertise driving this project forward. Our people’s craftsmanship is creating a space that will serve and strengthen the community long after construction is complete.”

The new centre will replace the 1964 Fredericton Playhouse, a stage that has welcomed generations of performers and audiences. Designed to meet the needs of a growing arts community, the Ron & Erma Hawkes Centre will offer expanded capacity, modern technical capabilities, and improved accessibility, ensuring it serves the city well into the future.

Designing the Stage for the City’s Future

Reaching this construction milestone required navigating significant technical challenges. The building’s curved steel elements, angled connections, and long-span trusses demanded careful planning and close coordination across all construction teams. When these components were lifted into place, each move required exact alignment; even slight

misplacement could have required extensive rework and slowed progress. Ensuring accuracy at each step was essential to maintaining momentum and structural integrity.

The site’s proximity to the Saint John River added additional considerations. Positioned within the river’s floodplain, the project required early and deliberate preparation of ground conditions and a building envelope capable of withstanding shifting water levels and weather. Robust geotechnical planning and a carefully engineered exterior system were central to this work, helping ensure the centre remains resilient and protected throughout its lifetime.

The Heart Behind the Milestone

For Fredericton, securing the final beam brings a long anticipated cultural future closer to view. The community will soon have a purpose-built venue designed to bring people together to experience, celebrate, and share the performing arts.

Reaching this point is the result of determination, technical excellence, and teamwork. The Ron & Erma Hawkes Centre for the Arts is well on its way to becoming one of the region’s most significant cultural venues, and today’s milestone highlights the meaningful progress already achieved.