The highly anticipated construction of the Performing Arts Center, which was last expected to be completed by 2021, is now approaching completion in the hopes of fall 2022. 

The Performing Arts Center was a groundbreaking announcement for many students and parents. Ever since its launch in 2020, there has been nothing but great expectancy for the project’s completion. However, with many complications the delay of the center’s finalization left many in the unknown. 

Principal Dr. Charles Park, who recently joined the campus and project, explained the reasoning behind the pushback of the building’s completion. 

“The supply line that got interrupted with COVID, the economy, but I think we’re back on track. Before the end of the year- I give no dates, no promises on exactly when or how but by the end of the year is what we’re aiming for,” Park stated when asked about the pushback and hopes for a new completion date. 

Despite the hardships of the building’s construction, the faith and hope students from arts such as choir, dance, and band have for the building only continues to grow as the building is anticipated for completion by 2022-2023 school year. 

“We are willing to wait and be patient and wait for it to be built the way it’s supposed to be,”

Performing Arts Academy student Gabrielle Manuel stated when asked about the delays of the building’s completion.

 The Performing Arts Center is a designated space for students active under performing categories, such as band, choir, theater, and dance, to not only have more expressive space and opportunity, but a professional step into the world of performance. 

 Classes such as theater and dance have been constrained by small classrooms, which occasionally feel like a barrier to the students’ full expression. Theater student Fernando Uribe expressed how the theater classroom is too small to fully provide the necessary space needed for expressive performance.

“It makes any scene work or play restricting. With the new building we can add more performance- more background,” Uribe

said. 

The construction of such a large space will now provide students with tremendous opportunities; a dance studio, enlarged choir rooms, a blackbox theater seating up to 650 people, and more, will all be available to fulfill the potentials and talents of these students. 

“It doesn’t matter what it is, but the first thing our students do, it’ll be exhilarating for all of us,” Park expressed when asked about his excitement for the performances that will take place in the building. “I almost don’t want to describe it- I think when you walk in the first feeling you’ll have is ‘Wow, this is our school,’” he added. 

Choir Director Tyler Wigglesworth, has been involved alongside the building’s progression since the very beginning. He stated the opportunities this will provide performing students. 

“It’s going to become a magnet and attract a lot of industry professionals which is great because our students here get opportunities to see these people in their own backyard,” Wigglesworth said. 

The building’s anticipation has been met highly by students, teachers, and parents. With such a large, designated space focusing solely on the arts, this will not only benefit students under performing arts, but encourage those who wish to enlist into the arts as well.