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The McKinney Performing Arts Center will be closed for much of 2026 as it undergoes a $10 million renovation project.
It’s the building’s first major renovation project since the 2000s when city officials reopened the former county courthouse as a performing arts center. Since it opened, the McKinney Performing Arts Center has hosted numerous community events and theater productions while driving traffic to downtown McKinney, city officials said.
The big picture
Plans for the renovation include a refresh of the public restrooms, new seating in the theater, and infrastructure improvements. Cultural District Director Andrew Jones said officials hope the renovations will “enhance the public’s experience” when they’re visiting the facility.
McKinney City Council members approved $9.2 million in funding for the project in February. Fort Worth-based Byrne Construction is overseeing construction, while Architexas provided engineering and design services.
“We want to protect and enhance the building,” Jones said. “We wanted to also weave the courthouse’s history and [narrative] into our design and operation of the facility.”
Construction work will include acoustic improvements, new seating and a permanent theater stage. The former judge’s bench will be brought out of storage to serve as a bar.
Officials are planning a rebrand of the facility that’s expected to launch later in 2026, Jones said. When the center reopens, officials hope to increase the “quality and quantity” of shows hosted there, ultimately driving additional traffic to downtown McKinney, he said. During renovations, the courthouse building and restrooms will be closed through fall 2026. Temporary restrooms have been installed on South Kentucky Street one block from the square.
The history
David Chase, a senior principal at Architexas, said the courthouse was originally constructed in the 1870s with a stone exterior and a mansard roof. It was later renovated in the 1920s to replace the roof and cover the stone with brick.
For the current renovation, Architexas officials conducted a historic finish analysis to determine the building’s paint colors from the 1930s.
“We found evidence of this green paint that was used,” he said. “We’re going to bring that back.”
The Texas Historical Commission approved the renovation designs, which is a requirement since the building is a designated State Antiquities Landmark.
The timeline
The courthouse was first constructed in the 1870s before it was reconstructed in the 1920s.
Cindy Schneible, president of the McKinney Community Development Corp., said the center contributes to the city’s economic health while also making downtown “such a special place.” The MCDC funded renovations to the building in the 2000s and since then has awarded promotional grants to organizations using the facility, such as the McKinney Repertory Theatre.
“Updating it to continue its stature as a crown jewel is something very important to the MCDC,” Schneible said.
Davina Gazo Stampfel, executive director of the McKinney Repertory Theatre, said she was excited for the permanent stage that’s being added to the theater space.
“We were the first to perform there in 2006,” Stampfel said. “It’s been our home ever since, and the very first show that was done there was ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ because it honored the courthouse’s legacy.”
The McKinney Repertory Theatre and the Young Actors Guild of McKinney are hosting events at other locations this year while the performing arts center is closed. Both organizations have several events planned throughout the spring. Upcoming events include:
