On May 7, 2016, $94,305 of a multi-million dollar bond was allocated to build a new Plano Independent School District (PISD) arts center, which will provide space for University Interscholastic League (UIL) competitions, school theatre, choir, and art showcases, as well as regional performances. The designated 16 acre property is east of Alma Drive, across the street from the Academy High School. The design and construction for the center is expected to take about 36 months, and it is set to open in January 2020.

Currently, PISD does not have enough space for the large number of performances that occur within the district.

“The district does not have an auditorium for large and acoustically appropriate performances,” Lesley Range-Stanton, PISD executive director for communications said. “They are often hosted in gymnasiums or rented spaces, costing the schools an excess of $45,000 annually to rent.”

According to school board president Missy Bender, the lack of a permanent fine arts space is not only expensive, but restricts the opportunities of the more than 60 percent of PISD students that participate in fine arts programs.

“Fine Arts UIL performances interrupt campus operations, and many UIL competitions are larger than PlSD’s facilities can accommodate,” Bender said. “We simply do not have enough performance or visual art display space to showcase the talent of our students.”

The proposed plan for the center will change that. The center is set to include a performance hall capacity of 1,500 seats, a black box theatre, space for dressing rooms and storage for theatre, dance, music and visual arts programs, among other features.

“Approximately 100 days of performances per school year will be held at the new center,” Bender said.

Some of the community events that could be held at the facility include the Jazz Festival, the Summer Stock Musical and the Community Veterans Day Program.

Not only will the new center impact the community, it will affect the arts programs at the high schools. Michael Davison, the head theatre director for Plano West, believes the new center will directly impact West’s theatre program.

“We rent a lot of LED lights for the fall play and it’s expensive,” Davison said. “With the new facility, this technology will already be in place, so it will be a lot more cost effective.”

In addition to the numerous benefits of the new structure, many believe it will provide valuable opportunities to further emphasize the arts and humanities.

“Having a larger fine arts facility will open more doors for students to showcase talent,” Bender said.

The benefits the center will bring to the Plano community and district are cause for excitement and enthusiasm about the project.

“I think the new center will stimulate the community’s interest in the arts,” Davison said. “It should be a beautiful structure and it will have people talking.”