The Grand Théâtre de Québec was built at the end of the 1960s at a cost of $14 million and it opened its doors in 1971.  The complex consists of three main components: Salle Louis-Fréchette,  Salle Octave-Crémazie, and Conservatoire de musique de Quebec. 


The building also incorporates dressing rooms, workshops, rehearsal rooms, costume storage rooms and display areas, and offices.  Salle Louis Fréchette, named after the 19th-century French-Canadian writer Louis-Honoré Fréchette,  has seating for 1812.  Salle Octave Crémazie, named after the 19th-century Canadian poet, Octave Crémazie, is much smaller with seating for 719. 



In an article published by the Montreal Gaztte on January 16, 1971, the architect reflected on his design.  He said that, "I designed a hall that would combine many of the best features of North American and European opera houses.  The stage in the Grand Theatre is one of the largest in the world, and will accommodate the most lavish productions.  .....  The hall itself is unusual in that it very closely resembles a square.  The rows of seats have been placed in what is called continental seating, that is, no aisles, and the rows have virtually no curve in them - which gives the illusion of being even closer to the stage than one really is." 




The Canadian Encyclopedia says that The Salle Louis-Fréchette is built of reinforced concrete and features an assembly of acrylic rods 2 m in length, each with a light on the end, hanging from its ceiling.  It adds that, "The foyers are located on four levels and surround the hall on three sides. A relief sculpture by Jordi Bonet is mounted on the concrete foyer wall, which has a surface area of 3600 square m."

Victor Pru says that, "The smaller theatre was designed as a real challenge for theatrical producers.  There are six basic theatre designs possible through the various positionings of the stage and the seats - all the way from normal proscenium production to full arena theatre style, with the playing area surrounded on all four sides by spectators."  The Salle Octave-Crémazie is located one floor below ground level. 


The  Conservatoire de musique de Quebec occupies the two floors of the building below ground. It has 75 studios some of which look onto the landscaped courtyard garden that is 8 metres below street level.