California district unveils performing arts facility

The Milpitas (California) Unified District has opened the Milpitas Performing Arts Center on the Milpitas High School campus.

Funding for the center came from a $285 million bond proposal approved by voters in November 2018.

The center’s 557-seat main theater has an orchestra pit, catwalk, theatrical rigging, and a dedicated audiovisual room. The facility also has a modern ticketing office and concessions area, a “blue box” theater, and fully equipped backstage dressing rooms.

The building also provides areas tailored for drama studies, alongside specialized classrooms for choral, band, and orchestra programs. Soundproofed practice rooms and breakout rooms feature acoustic paneling.

The architect is LPA Design Studios, and the builder is Swinerton.

Auditorium expansion will create performing arts center for Iowa district

The Burlington (Iowa) district has begun an expansion of the existing auditorium at Aldo Leopold Intermediate School to create a performing arts facility for the entire district.

The Hawkeye reports that the upgraded space, dubbed the Grayhound Performing Arts Center, will have 711 permanent stadium seats of varying sizes, compared with the 507 bleacher-style seats in the existing auditorium.

The total square footage will nearly double — from 7,500 to 14,500 square feet.

The new stage will be larger and more technically equipped, including expanded lighting systems, new curtains and updated sound systems, a  dedicated orchestra pit area, and two fully removable front rows to accommodate band and orchestra performances.

The center also will have a full backstage and stagecraft area, which the existing auditorium has lacked. That will include dedicated makeup and hair stations with mirrors and ample electrical outlets; dressing rooms converted from underused locker rooms; additional seating areas and storage; a set design and construction room; an overhead garage-style door for prop loading; and A loading dock

The architect is Bray Architects and the project manager is Carl A. Nelson & Co.

Hudson (Ohio) district begins upgrade of high school performing space

The Hudson City (Ohio) district has broken ground on the Harmony Performing Arts Project, a $5.5 million public-private partnership to improve performing arts facilities at Hudson High School.

The Akron Beacon Journal reports that the upgraded space will have a 5,000-square-foot orchestra room, renovated choir and band rooms, and improvements to the auditorium.

The upgrades will include LED lighting in the auditorium and orchestra room; new flooring and LED lighting in the band room; removal of the concrete risers in favor of portable risers; room for orchestra students to store their instruments; new seating; an acoustic upgrade; and new stage.

The Hudson school board approved spending $1.5 million for the project, and the district received a donation of $1 million from the Quagliata Family Foundation. The district is seeking donations to cover the rest of the project cost.

The architect is GPD Group, and the contractor is Millstone Management Group

New performance space at Los Angeles high school honors film composer

North Hollywood High School in Los Angeles has held a grand opening for its new performing arts space, named for alumnus and noted film composer John Williams.

The 35,000-square-foot John Williams Performing Arts Center seats 800 and replaces the school's 1927 auditorium. It is a centerpiece of a $320 million campus modernization project.

The Los Angeles Times reports that the center is equipped with modern amenities for student performances and school assemblies. Besides an enormous stage, blue velvet curtains, a mixing console and safe catwalks, the building also has new classrooms and rehearsal spaces.

The architect is CO Architects.

The grand opening featured student performances of some of Williams’ most iconic film scores, including Star Wars, Jurassic Park, and Indiana Jones.

Performing arts center under construction at University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania is building the 38,700-square-foot Platt Student Performing Arts Center.

When it opens in early 2027, the $75 million Platt Center will include the Edward W. Kane Theatre, a 326-seat performance space with a full fly tower and orchestra pit; a 125-seat studio theatre with flexible performance and rehearsal capabilities; five rehearsal studios; a student lounge; and an atrium lobby as well as performance support spaces and a loading dock.

The university will be a dedicated, flexible, and modern facility for the student performing arts community, which includes dance, theatre arts, a cappella groups, and musical ensembles.

The project focuses on sustainable performing arts design and is aiming for LEED silver certification. The building is named for Julie Platt and Marc Platt, both graduates of the College of Arts & Sciences.

The architect is Steven Holl Architects.

Arts center at University of Southern Maine receives LEED Gold

The Crewe Center for the Arts at the University of Southern Maine in Portland has received LEED Gold certification for its environmentally friendly design and construction.

The $63 million center, which opened in 2025, incorporates mass timber construction, using large structural wood components instead of materials like steel and concrete.

The building’s exterior has bird-safe glass, which uses visual patterns etched into the surface to prevent bird collisions. Nearly every room includes large, floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the space with daylight. Interior elements — paints, adhesives, and flooring — were selected to minimize harmful chemicals that conventional materials can release into the air.

A core space in the Crewe Center is the Great Hall Gallery, an exhibition space with movable walls, integrated lighting, audio, and display technology.

The Performance Hall has seating for 200 and integrated audio/visual systems to accommodate vocal and instrumental ensembles, light opera, and dance performances. The Arts Lab is a multipurpose space with telescopic tiered seating for 50 to 75 that can accommodate a range of art, music, theater and dance.