Inside Crandall ISD’s New Performing Arts Center
Crandall High School’s new fine arts venue enters its final months of construction with a tentative ribbon cutting set for December 8, 2026.
One of the largest fine arts investments in Crandall ISD history is entering its final stretch of construction. District officials are now targeting December 8, 2026 for a ribbon cutting at the new Crandall High School Performing Arts Center.
Exterior signage has been installed and concrete walkways have been poured. Scaffolding around the stage is now being removed as crews finish the final details. District officials say the project remains within budget.
The new facility is far more than a construction project. It will give Crandall students a dedicated home for fine arts performance while reshaping how the district hosts concerts and productions.
Seating Capacity: Two Different Numbers
The Performing Arts Center will include an auditorium with about 820 seats. Crandall ISD’s original announcement described an auditorium with 820 seats. A later district board summary tied to the construction package listed 814 seats instead.
The difference is small but real. It suggests the finished space may seat closer to 814 people than the rounded figure used in early materials.
| Source | Seats Reported |
|---|---|
| Groundbreaking Announcement | 820 |
| Board Construction Package | 814 |
Built for Fine Arts Education
The project adds 30,585 square feet to Crandall High School. It also renovates about 6,970 square feet of the existing fine arts wing.
The venue includes a stage built to UIL size specifications. A 64 foot fly loft allows scenery to be raised safely above the stage.
A commissioned glass art installation will also be added to the lobby. Dallas artist Carlyn Ray is creating the piece with help from Crandall ISD students. The project includes a fused glass collaboration and a STEAM learning experience at the artist’s studio.
Programs That Will Benefit
Five fine arts programs are expected to gain the most from the new center.
The renovated practice rooms are already in use by students while construction continues on the main auditorium. That means the investment is already helping classrooms today and not just future audiences.
What the Project Actually Costs
Calling this a $20 million project requires a closer look at where that number comes from. In May 2022 Crandall ISD voters approved a $365 million bond package.
Proposition C within that bond set aside $20 million specifically for the Performing Arts Center. That authorization is the source of the $20 million figure attached to the project.
A separate filing tells a different part of the story. A Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation registration for the project lists an estimated cost of $28 million.
That filing does not represent a second voter approved cost. It reflects an estimated project cost tracked through state accessibility filings rather than the ballot measure itself.
| Figure | Source | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Bond Authorization | Proposition C (May 2022) | $20 Million |
| Estimated Project Cost | TDLR Filing | $28 Million |
The Crandall ISD Board approved a guaranteed maximum price for the project in April 2025.
District officials continue to report the project remains within its approved budget.
Will the Public Be Able to Rent It
Crandall ISD already allows some facilities to be used by outside groups. Policy requires those groups to primarily serve Crandall ISD residents and to follow district rules.
The district has not yet published a rental rate specific to the Performing Arts Center. That makes it too early to advertise the venue as a booked community theater with a set price.
- Will the auditorium host nonprofit events?
- Will private performances or recitals be allowed?
- What staffing will be required for outside shows?
- Who covers security and cleanup costs?
Operating Costs Remain Unknown
Construction is only the first financial chapter for a building this size. A modern performing arts center creates real costs every year. Those include utilities, cleaning and technical staffing.
Crandall ISD has not yet published a separate operating budget for the facility. That number will become one of the most important figures once the doors open.
Rental income could eventually offset some of those costs if the district opens the venue to outside groups. No projection for that revenue has been made public yet.
Countdown to December
For now the story is about progress. Crandall ISD says the project remains on schedule for a tentative ribbon cutting on December 8, 2026.
If that date holds, Crandall students will begin 2027 with a venue far different from what the district had only a few years ago. The next chapter will focus on how the center is used and what it costs to run each year.
