How will the Arts Center be used?
How is the construction of the Arts Center being funded?
What is the Arts Center’s mission? Its vision?
Does the Arts Center meet CRDC fund criteria?
What will the Arts Center include?
When was the idea for the Arts Center developed?
How was the design for the Arts Center chosen?
Why were the original seating plans for the Arts Center expanded?
Is the City pursuing corporate sponsorships for the Arts Center?
Will the Arts Center create parking congestion in Old Town?
How will the Arts Center be used?
How is the construction of the Arts Center being funded?
The $17 million project will be primarily funded by the Coppell Recreation and Development Corporation (CRDC), a sales tax revenue fund that was established to undertake projects for youth and adult amateur athletics, entertainment and public gathering facilities, exhibition and museum facilities, parks and recreational facilities and more. Coppell voters re-authorized the CRDC's use of sales tax revenue in the November 5, 2013 election.
Because the CRDC is almost entirely funded through sales tax, the majority of fund revenues are collected from non-Coppell residents that commute to the City for work or business reasons and from business to business transactions.
What is the Arts Center’s mission? Its vision?
Does the Arts Center meet CRDC fund criteria?
Yes, the Arts Center does meet the CRDC criteria.
What will the Arts Center include?
The Coppell Arts Center is planned to be 32,250 square-foot, one-story building, that will include a flexible theater, a main stage theater, a multipurpose room that expands the facility’s use beyond just the arts, exhibit, classroom and office space and a courtyard plaza.
The main performance hall will seat up to 441 patrons and will include 2,200 square feet of stage space.
The black box/flex theater will seat 195 patrons (depending on seating arrangement) and total 2,650 square feet.
The multi-purpose space will total 2,000 square feet, accommodate 100-165 people and will be used for community and arts organizations to hold rehearsals and meetings.
In addition to the three main areas, there will be a gallery and studio space. The gallery will provide pre-function, waiting, gallery, banquets, lectures, and concessions. The space provides natural light and panoramic views to the Old Town Square. Artwork will be displayed in the gallery and multi-purpose areas. The studio provides flexible classroom space intended for visual, textile, and graphic artists, but it can be used in a variety of ways. The studio contains tables, chairs, cabinets and storage.
Why did the City choose to build a new Arts Center instead of renovating the existing Center for the Arts?
In 2015, after a presentation from Theatre Coppell, the idea of an arts center was revisited, and the City contracted with Corgan Architects to perform preliminary program and site planning for either the existing theater’s renovation, renovation and expansion, and/or an option for the construction of a new theater located in Old Town Coppell. This preliminary programming study was reviewed by the City Council during their October 25, 2016 work session, and it was utilized to create the initial schematic design.
After much research, the Coppell City Council determined that City staff and the architect should begin focusing on the potential construction of a new arts facility located in Old Town. In January 2017, the Coppell City Council approved an architectural services agreement with Corgan for the proposed Coppell Arts Center .
When was the idea for the Arts Center developed?
The idea of building a performing arts center venue was initially discussed many years ago, during the development of Old Town Coppell. In 1999, the City of Coppell converted an unused fire station to the Coppell Center for the Arts, also home to Theatre Coppell.
As the City grew, so did its needs for a larger arts venue. In 2015, after a presentation from Theatre Coppell, the idea of an arts center was revisited, and the City contracted with Corgan Architects to perform preliminary program and site planning for either the existing theater’s renovation, renovation and expansion, and/or an option for the construction of a new theater located in Old Town Coppell. This preliminary programming study was reviewed by the City Council during their October 25, 2016 work session, and it was utilized to create the initial schematic design.
After much research, the Coppell City Council determined that City staff and the architect should begin focusing on the potential construction of a new arts facility located in Old Town. In January 2017, the Coppell City Council approved an architectural services agreement with Corgan for the proposed Coppell Arts Center .
On June 12, 2018, after numerous discussions, presentations to City Council and public hearings, the Coppell City Council voted six to one to approve the Guaranteed Maximum Price Amendment to the agreement between the City of Coppell and Core Construction, giving the City the green light to begin construction of a new Arts Center located in Old Town Coppell, the City's historic district. At the July 24, 2018 meeting, the City Council unanimously voted to approve additional seats in the Main Stage Theater.
View the full Arts Center timeline.
How was the design for the Arts Center chosen?
Why were the original seating plans for the Arts Center expanded?
In order to attract a wider range of shows and performances, the City Council decided that it would be necessary to increase the number of seats in the Main Theater to 441. The original plans included only 315 seats.
"As we went through the business plan process, we learned that there is a distinction between a local theater, a regional theater and a national theater," said Mike Land, City Manager. "The magic number for attracting those larger, regional shows is 440 seats. We want to ensure that the theater is viable into the future. The Black Box, or Flex, Theater will be primarily be used by our local arts groups, and the additional seats in the Main Stage Theater will not impact our local performers. This simply presents a lot of opportunity to bring in other shows."
"One of our former Councilmembers told me that we don't want to limit ourselves for the future because we don't know where we're going. That was probably the most insightful comment that I ever heard," said Councilmember Wes Mays. "I think we need to be careful that we don't underestimate ourselves here. As the theater was originally designed, it will be functional for our needs, but as we move forward, I think we would be limiting our potential if we don't do an expansion. I'm usually not the one to go for spending more, but, in this case, I think it's worthwhile.”
Is the City pursuing corporate sponsorships for the Arts Center?
Will the Arts Center create parking congestion in Old Town?