CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi will soon have a new state-of-the-art Arts and Media Building. Earlier this month, the university's Board of Regents gave the thumbs up for the construction of the new facility.
It will take over the open lot that used to hold Classroom East, which was previously demolished in October. University President, Dr. Kelly M. Miller said the idea of the project is decades in the making.
“When the performing arts center was built over 25 years ago, that was supposed to be phase one of an arts complex for our students," Miller. "But there’s really not any academic space in that building and this is actually that phase two.”
The 85,000 square foot, two-story building will have a new 200 seat recital hall and dance studio with mirrors, barres, and a sprung floor. But that's not it. Dr. Miller said there will be a lot more.
“It will have a proscenium theatre for the theatre students, a black box, a variety of performance spaces and practice rooms and it will also have offices in that space," Miller said.
For any master of the arts, it’s important to have great sound structure. And that’s what the new building will offer. Dr. Diana Sipes, university professor and Director of the School of Arts, Media, & Communications, has worked at the university for over 20 years and said she’s ready for the new sound technology.
“We can hear everything," Sipes said. "There’s all this concrete that transfers the sound from one space to the next, so the environment is distracting to the students.”
Sophomore music industry student, Abigail De Jesus, said the new building will enhance and intensify the talents that are being nurtured within the program.
“I think a new building is going to represent such a powerhouse that the arts department has and the music department has," De Jesus said. "It’ll also give room to expand our creativity so much more.”
The project will also include a dedicated space for Dr. Hector P. Garcia. And the price tag on something like this $81 million. Dr. Miller added that the most important purpose for the project is the investment into the student’s development.
“The fact that we’re able to grow and produce such wonderful musicians and wonderful artists and theater folks, we are really proud of that," Miller said. "Now we’re really excited to have that opportunity for them to have the kind of facilities that they’re going need to be really successful in their professions.”
A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for May and the project is expected to be finished in spring of 2026.
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