Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

California High School Debuts $35M Performing Arts Center

  • By Matt Jones
  • 03/04/25

Irvine High School in Irvine, Calif., recently opened its new Performing Arts Center built in partnership with C.W. Driver Companies, according to a news release. The facility cost $35 million and covers about 25,000 square feet. Construction began in January 2023, and the grand opening celebration took place on Feb. 7, 2025.

Amenities include a 650-seat main theater with upgraded sound, lighting, and rigging capabilities; a black box theater; dressing rooms; a scene shop; and central lobby, the news release reports.

“We have envisioned this facility for years, and it’s truly exciting to see it come to life,” said Kelvin Okino, Irvine Unified School District’s Executive Director of Facilities and Construction. “Through the voter’s passage of Bond Measure E, we were able to construct a new state-of-the art Performing Arts Center. The success of the project is a testament to the incredible collaboration and partnership we’ve had with C.W. Driver Companies throughout this process. Together, we’ve created a space that will empower creativity and serve our community for generations to come.”

Materials used include a steel and metal frame diaphragm building and a combination of metal panels, plaster, and curtain walls, according to the news release. The construction process incorporated sustainability techniques like irrigation, deep soil mixing, and landscape planning. The facility will play home to a wide range of student performances, rehearsals, and school events.

“We are honored to have worked on such a world-class performing arts center, which will serve as a beacon of creativity and collaboration for students throughout the district and the Irvine greater community,” said C.W. Driver Companies Project Manager Ashcon Hekmat.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Rhode Island Boarding School Completes Student Dorm Renovations

    St. George’s School in Middletown, R.I., recently announced the completion of a $26-million renovation project on Arden-Diman-Eccles Dormitory, according to a news release. The school partnered with Voith & Mactavish Architects (VMA) on the new space, which places a new focus on collaborative community spaces open to both boarding students and day students.

  • New City School

    Turning Crisis into Opportunity: Transforming New City School

    When New City School in St. Louis suffered catastrophic flood damage in July 2022, the event could have marked a serious setback for the 100-year-old institution. Instead, it became a forward-looking opportunity.

  • Photo credit - Chuck Coates

    Florida District Modernizes Central Energy Plants at Two High Schools

    Flagler Schools, a public school district in Flagler County, Fla., recently partnered with Matern Professional Engineering to modernize the central energy plants at two of its high schools, according to a news release. The project is part of a larger, district-wide effort to reduce energy costs and operational expenses.

  • California K–12 District Completes Elementary School Campus Replacement

    The West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) in Richmond, Calif., recently announced the completion of a replacement campus for Lake Elementary School, according to a news release. The school has capacity for 470 students between Transitional Kindergarten (TK) and sixth grade.