Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

New Arizona Fine Arts School Reaches Construction Milestone

  • By Matt Jones
  • 02/17/26

Key Takeaways

  • The new 115,111-square-foot Hilltop School for the Arts and Theater reached a major construction milestone with a beam-signing ceremony marking the placement of its final structural beam.
  • The $74.5 million campus will feature extensive arts-focused amenities, including a 34,034-square-foot performing arts center with seating for more than 700, a black box theater, classroom buildings, and student support spaces.
  • District leaders emphasized that the project, slated for completion in fall 2026, reflects a long-term commitment to expanding creative and educational opportunities for students and the broader community.

Construction of the new Hilltop School for the Arts and Theater in Litchfield Park, Ariz., recently hit a significant milestone, according to a news release. The Agua Fria High School District held a beam-signing ceremony to celebrate the building’s topping out, or the placement of its last structural beam. The district partnered with McCarthy Building Companies and ADM Group on the 115,111-square-foot facility.

Amenities are set to include two one-level classroom buildings and a two-story facility with a black box theater, cafeteria, administrative space, a media center, and more classroom space. The campus will also feature a 34,034-square-foot performing arts center including front-of-house space, a lobby, seating capacity of more than 700, and a back-of-house area with flex space and a food service area, according to the news release.

“The beam represents more than steel and signatures,” said Kristen Acton, Governing Board President for AFHSD. “It symbolizes our shared commitment to students, families, and this community. Every decision behind this project was made with learning, opportunity, and long-term impact in mind.”

Construction started in May 2025 and has an estimated completion date of fall 2026, and the full project cost about $74.5 million. McCarthy Building Companies served as general contractor, and ADM as designer.

“Most of all, we can’t wait to have students walk through these doors,” said Julie Jones, Hilltop School for the Arts and Theater Principal. “And as we sign this beam today, I am reminded that it is their courage to create, perform, and grow that is the heart of Hilltop. They are the ones who inspire us and remind us why this work matters.”

About the Author

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

Featured

  • golden trophies with falling confetti

    Spaces4Learning Launches 2026 New Product Awards

    Spaces4Learning is happy to announce that we’re now accepting entries for the 2026 New Product Awards! The awards program recognizes the outstanding product development achievements of manufacturers and suppliers whose products or services are considered particularly noteworthy.

  • South Carolina District Starts Construction on $50M Middle School Renovation

    The Aiken County Public School District in North Augusta, S.C., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the $50-million renovation and expansion of North Augusta Middle School, according to a news release. The project’s funding comes from the 2024 renewal of a one-cent sales tax approved by local voters.

  • Wold Architects & Engineers Acquires VPS Architecture

    Full-service planning, architecture, and engineering firm Wold Architects & Engineers recently announced that it has acquired VPS Architecture, according to a news release. The move will help strengthen Wold’s education and public-sector design expertise, industries in which both companies have strong pre-existing ties and relationships.

  • AAADM Announces Building Safety Month Initiatives

    The American Association of Automatic Door Manufacturers (AAADM) recently announced its support of Building Safety Month as declared by the International Code Council (ICC), according to a news release.