Image Credit: Station One Architects

By Michael Reeve

COST CHANGES

Performing Arts Centre cost increases tied to meeting the national accessibility code

Nov 19, 2025 | 4:30 PM

KAMLOOPS — During the budget meeting held on Tuesday (Nov. 18), Kamloops council was informed about increased costs for the Kamloops Centre for the Arts project.

Last year, Kamloops residents supported the city in borrowing $270 million for two Build Kamloops projects – the performing arts centre downtown and the arena multiplex in Dufferin.

Now, the price tag on the arts centre, which was set at $166 million, is increasing and could balloon even further to over $200 million if council agrees to replace a “lost” parking lot level at a cost of more than $22 million.

“The site was not as flat as anticipated, or as thought of originally and to meet the accessibility code, the theatre needed to be dropped down [into the ground],” explained Financial Planning and Procurement Manager Dustin Rutsatz. “[That] took away from the parking that was anticipated in the original design. On this we have the option for an additional parkade level, to add back the parking.”

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The requirement to drop the building into the ground comes at a cost of 40 parking stalls. According to city estimates, the P1 level of parking – the base level – had 48 total stalls, while the P2 level – the additional parkade – had 110 stalls.

While the mayor has asked about potentially halting the entire project, council will have a chance to outline how it wishes to fund the cost changes at an upcoming council meeting.

“We looked at this project. We have four years, really, to come up with how we could fund it,” said Rutsatz. “That is what I’m here today to present — a funding strategy where we can still move this project forward without additional draws on taxation but not without some difficult decisions.”

“Essentially we are saying, for council to do this we need to take that flexibility to do that,” added Rutsatz.

He also said the city is actively applying for grants to help offset the cost of the project.