The Executive Director of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (WSO) says Pantages Playhouse Theatre deserves an upgrade as a performance space. 

That's why the WSO is preparing a bid for the building, which was put up for sale by the city earlier this year. 

"We had been managing that building on behalf of the city for eight years and realized what an important and well-used facility it is in our arts community," WSO executive director Trudy Schroeder said. "We think it should remain a theatre, we should value its historical significance to our community and it should be refurbished so that it can meet the next 100 years with a certain kind of style and grace instead of gradual decline." 

"We think we have a good plan for it and we hope the wisdom of city council will be to select ours." 

Schroeder says the WSO originally wrote a letter to Mayor Brian Bowman, asking if the city would hand over the theatre to the symphony. That offer was rejected, however, as the city said it couldn't just sell the building and would have to open a bidding process. 

Schroeder says they don't plan on making Pantages their performance home, but they would like to put a box office in there, relocate their administrative spaces to the building and incorporate smaller WSO programming spaces into the building.

"Right now our offices are in the Richardson building, which is fairly convenient but really having a street-front presence right there would be just great," Schroeder said. "There might be some really great proposals out there, I do not know, but I think we have a very solid expectation of the way that facility can continue to serve the community." 

The WSO is applying for programs that could help fund their vision for the space, but they need to own the property in order for that funding to come to fruition. They will also be doing independent fundraising.

They have a $20 million plan and a $12 million plan, according to Schroeder.

"The $20 million plan has additional space built into the square that adds meeting performances spaces, a restaurant on the main floor, administrative spaces and potentially offices for other arts organizations in the city," Schroeder said. "The $12 million plan is essentially refurbishing the existing footprint." 

Bids have to be submitted by Sept. 28, 2018 and Schroeder estimates it will take a few months after that until the city makes a decision. 

A city spokesman couldn't comment on whether or not any other organizations have submitted bids for the building. 

He says the city utilizes an open bidding process and bid details are not made public until a successful applicant is chosen.