Frisco | March 2024

From the cover

Curtains to open on Frisco ISD arts center

Zooming in

The big picture

The center will allow the district to host larger performance events. In recent years, the district has seen schools outgrow their auditoriums. For example, a band concert was recently held at Stonebrook Com- munity Church because the district’s high school auditoriums have a limited capacity size and could not fit the concert’s crowds, Hazzard said. The district does not have any spaces large enough to accommodate bigger productions, he said. “This district deserves a beautiful place,” FISD trustee Mark Hill said at a December board meeting. “We excel at so many things in the fine arts place, so it’s due time.” Going beyond space, the district’s student opportunity model played a factor when designing the facility, Hazzard said.

The district operates a higher number of elementary, middle and high schools as part of its student opportunity model. The guiding principle increases student engagement by allowing a greater percentage of students to participate in leadership roles and more extracurricular activi- ties, district officials said.

Frisco ISD’s new performing arts center is designed to be a hub for its arts programs. “We’re not just looking at the performance hall, but we’re looking at all the spaces in the facility and being able to increase programming opportunities because we’ll have a centralized home,” said Preston Hazzard, FISD’s managing director of fine arts. The proposed $54.9 million center is slated to break ground before the end of the school year. During the 2023-24 school year, 78% of middle school students and 51% of high school students are enrolled in fine arts.

Fine arts enrollment

Middle school

20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 0

The setup

Stage and Performance hall Lobby Back of house and support Fine arts office Two multipurpose rooms

Nathan Huette with Corgan Architects, the firm designing the facility, said his team worked with FISD’s fine arts department as well as the construc- tion, maintenance and technology departments in the district. “It was a great collaborative effort for our part,” Huette said during a December board meeting. Once built, the center will include an audito- rium, gallery space and office space. “Frisco is very special in that it is very support- ive of the arts,” Hazzard said.

High school

10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 0

Approximately 1,200 seats with upper balcony seating

2nd floor art exhibit gallery

SOURCE: FRISCO ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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