The district’s board of trustees were presented the project details during a Dec. 11 board meeting by representatives of Corgan Architects.
“This facility is a legacy of support that will forever remain in the hearts and minds of fine arts students and teachers in this district,” Managing Director of Fine Arts Preston Hazzard said in the meeting.
The backstory
District voters approved a $691 million bond package in November 2018, with $43 million of that designated for a fine arts facility that includes an auditorium, gallery space, instructional training and office space, according to the district website.
In 2021, the district, the city of Frisco and developer Hall Group entered into a partnership to build a joint performing arts center at the Hall Park office park. However, in August 2022 the city and the school district announced they were parting ways and canceling the joint project plans.
The school board awarded architectural and engineering services to Corgan Architects in November 2022.
The details
Bobby Lajoie with Corgan said the center will feature:
- Approximately 1,200 seats with upper balcony seating
- Two multipurpose labs
- Fine arts office suit
- Art exhibit gallery
- Back of house support spaces
The University Interscholastic League competition sequences were taken into consideration, he said. This includes the flow of student arrival, a space for warmup, sight-reading and students leaving, according to the presentation.
Stay tuned
Construction on the project is expected to begin in March 2024 with the facility opening in the first quarter of 2026, the presentation states.
“I look forward to having ... a larger space where we don’t have to sell out [shows] so quickly and more people have the opportunity to see the amazing things happening in Frisco ISD’s fine arts,” board President Dynette Davis said.
