McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. has partnered with architect firms Perkins + Will and BORA for the new Plano Independent School District Fine Arts Center (FAC) design-build project. McCarthy was selected in June as construction manager at risk for the pre-construction and construction phase of the project, which will break ground summer of 2018.
The new FAC — located on the east side of Alma Road between 15th Street and West Park Boulevard — will feature performance and educational spaces that aim to contribute to the fine arts education of more than 60 percent of Plano’s secondary students, according to a news release.
“McCarthy is pleased to have won the contract to build this exciting arts facility for Plano ISD,” said McCarthy Texas Division President Ray Sedey, in the release. “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.”
According to the release, the 90,000-square-foot 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 theatre (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 FAC 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, in the release. “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.”
On May 7, 2016, Collin County voters passed a $481 million bond that included funding for the FAC.
The fine arts facility, including land acquisition ($5 million) and soft costs such as architectural and engineering fees, legal fees, permits, taxes, etc. is estimated to cost $68.5 million. Looking solely at direct construction costs, the estimate is $50 million.