The National Arts Centre redesign will use glass to counter the concrete, "adding a layer of transparency," the architect heading the project said on CBC Radio's All In A Day after the $110-million renovation project officially broke ground on Tuesday.

A new Elgin Street entrance and atrium, as well as a new north addition to replace the concrete terraces, are expected to be unveiled in time for Canada's 150th birthday on July 1, 2017.

"What we're really doing is turning the National Arts Centre to really face the city," said principal architect Donald Schmitt.

"The building was really designed to face the canal. It was almost designed as a piece of landscape that you climbed up and over the building and descended on the canal side."

Schmitt is known for his work on performing arts venues around the world, including the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto, Maison Symphonique in Montréal, the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia and the new David Geffen Hall in New York City.

The NAC has not had any major work done since it opened in 1969.

Listen to the full interview here.

NAC north addition

A rendition of what the north addition of the National Arts Centre will look like when complete in July 2017. (Diamond Schmitt Architects)

North addition lounge

A rendering of what a new north-facing NAC lounge is expected to look like when complete in July 2017. (Diamond Schmitt Architects)

North atrium staircase

A rendition of what the north atrium staircase will look like when complete in July 2017. (Diamond Schmitt Architects)

North addition tower room

A rendering of what the new north tower room is expected to look like when complete in July 2017. (Diamond Schmitt Architects)

Panorama Room

While the bulk of the renovations are expected to finished by Canada Day 2017, the dining room, which faces the Rideau Canal, is expect to be complete in January 2018.

A rendering of what the renovated dining room will look like when complete in January 2018. (Diamond Schmitt Architects)

Canada's Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly and Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson took part in the ceremonial tossing of purple sand on Tuesday morning to mark the official groundbreaking.

Groundbreaking at <a href="https://twitter.com/CanadasNAC">@CanadasNAC</a> with a great team. CC: <a href="https://twitter.com/JimWatsonOttawa">@JimWatsonOttawa</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/DiamondSchmitt">@DiamondSchmitt</a> & co. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NAC2017?src=hash">#NAC2017</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cdnpoli?src=hash">#cdnpoli</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZF1ihhHCnT">pic.twitter.com/ZF1ihhHCnT</a> —@melaniejoly

Construction will take place between 12 a.m. and 2 p.m., then "drills down," allowing performances to continue, said NAC director of communication Rosemary Thompson.

She added that The Fourth Stage will shut down in May until the grand re-opening but that the thee other main stages will remain open.

"The show must always go on," she said. "We know it can be a challenge but we want our audience to let us know how we're doing and to stay with us."