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Here are some of the impacts of the construction.

On performances

Construction will occur outside performance hours on weekdays between midnight and 2 p.m. Evening and weekend shows will go ahead as planned. Because of daytime construction, some school matinées, daytime performances and rehearsals will be cancelled or moved within the NAC or to other venues across the city. The Fourth Stage will be closed starting in the spring of 2016 until July 2017, however many of the shows and community events presented here will be moved to other the Centre’s performance halls.

On Le café

Due to the daytime disruption caused by the renovation, le café will be closing for lunch from January 4, 2016 until June 26, 2017. Le café will remain open, however, for dinner in the evening. The NAC’s catering operations will be considerably reduced during the renovations.

Photo by Rendering / National Arts Centre

On construction

The public will begin to see physical changes to the building between December and January, including hoarding that will be installed on Elgin Street and on the northeastern side of the terrace overlooking Confederation Square. PCL will also begin to remove concrete tiles on the north terrace in January. Inside the NAC, work will begin near the Fountain Room and in the space between the main reception desk and the Theatre lobby. Visitors may also see some work being done in the garages to strengthen some of the NAC’s supporting structure.

On washrooms

One of the first projects will be a new bank of washrooms on the second floor, near the Panorama and Fountain Rooms. Existing washrooms on the ground floor will remain in operation until the second phase of construction, which will begin in March-April 2016. By that time, the NAC says, the new washrooms will be ready.