Cantos offers a performance space, and organizes musical events in and around Calgary. The center, which also provides music-education programs, is the new home of the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame collection, and houses the most complete collection of historical keyboard instruments in Canada.
The building’s exterior features precast concrete comprising glass facade, with a bridge running through the center, suspended 10 meters in mid air. It appears like a large, rectangular box with openings in between each block, fitted with long rods. The main feature of the center is the soundscape, which has a vertical canted atrium that connects space aurally and physically.
The interior features walls complete with wooden finish, and escalators are installed in each block to promote accessibility for the visitors to move to and fro from one block to another.
The Cantos center will be part museum, part education and outreach facility, and part performance space, incorporating genres ranging from pop and country, to ancient music and contemporary composition.
SPF architects was established in Los Angeles in 1987.
