PLANO, TX—Residents approved a Plano Independent School District bond proposal, allowing for $63.6 million toward the Plano ISD Performing Arts Center. The center is part of a larger $94.3 million investment being made by the school district in fine arts-related projects, GlobeSt.com learns.

Subsequently, McCarthy Building Companies Inc. was chosen by the school district's board of trustees in June to be the construction manager at risk for the pre-construction and construction phase services for the center. The facility will house major performance and educational spaces. Construction will commence in the summer of 2018.

“McCarthy is pleased to have won the contract to build this exciting arts facility for Plano ISD. We have deep expertise in constructing cutting-edge arts, performance spaces and fine arts facilities. We look forward to working with the Perkins + Will/BORA team and Plano ISD to create a space that will inspire student creativity for decades to come,” said McCarthy Texas division president, Ray Sedey.

Located on the east side of Alma Road between 15th Street and West Park Boulevard, the facility will contribute to the education of more than 60% of Plano's secondary students participating in fine arts programs. When completed, the 90,000-square-foot freestanding building will feature a 1,500-seat multi-purpose performance hall with an upper-level balcony and lower-level orchestra pit, a 250-seat studio theater/black box, a rehearsal studio for music and dance, and a visual arts gallery. The facility will also include a main lobby, theater and visual art support spaces as well as exterior gathering and performance spaces. The center will have surface parking for approximately 700 cars.

“The Fine Arts Center is a unique building type for the district since we primarily deal with schools, stadiums and administrative offices. Selecting the right team to join us, and help guide us on this particular project has been critical,” said Tony Pearson, PISD's assistant director of facility services. “We feel our choices of Perkins + Will/BORA as the architect and McCarthy as the contractor have been successful so far. We are excited about the direction the project is going and look forward to seeing the final product.”

McCarthy's extensive resume of constructing arts centers makes it well-suited to deliver performance spaces. McCarthy is currently building the Kinder School for Performing and Visual Arts in Houston. McCarthy's other arts-related projects include The Museum of Fine Arts Houston's Glassell School of Art, The AT&T Dee & Charles Wyly Theatre, and the Klyde Warren Park and Amphitheater in Dallas.

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Investment in Fine Arts Soon to Pay Off

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