Performing Arts Center Grand Opening

Top Photo--Dr. Bruce Leslie, Alamo Colleges Chancellor; Dr. Ana M. “Cha” Guzmán, PAC President; and John Strybos, Associate Vice Chancellor of Facilities for the Alamo Colleges, pose for a photo during the grand opening of the Performing Arts Center, Aug. 19. (Photo by Duncan Perez)

Middle Photo--Hundreds of supporters were in attendance to witness the grand opening of the $20.4 million Performing Arts Center at Palo Alto College. (Photo by Duncan Perez)

Bottom Photo--Dr. Ana M. “Cha” Guzmán, PAC President, addresses attendees before the ribbon cutting ceremony officially opening the Performing Arts Center. (Photo by Duncan Perez)

PAC HOSTS GRAND OPENING FOR
NEW PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

Amid cultural pageantry replete with mariachi music by world renowned Campanas de America, local and state politicians, and students, Palo Alto College held a grand opening for its new $20.4 million multi-faceted Performing Arts Center, Aug. 19.

Mayor Julián Castro joined college president Dr. Ana M. “Cha” Guzmán, and Alamo Colleges Chancellor, Dr. Bruce Leslie in a ribbon cutting ceremony that officially opened the doors to a spectacular 400-seat theater.

Along with the theater, the 46,243 square-feet building also contains a dance studio, recording studio, recital hall, computer lab, drama classroom, scene shop and speech classrooms.

“This Center will serve as an artistic window for the Southside, as well as a shining place to show our culture,” said Dr. Guzmán. Foreshadowing events to come, the drama, music and dance departments staged condensed performances in different locations throughout the Center, showcasing a variety of ways performances can be held there.

The Performing Arts Center is one of several new construction and renovation projects currently underway at PAC as a result of the 2005 Bexar County bond election that approved $450 million for the physical expansion of the Alamo Colleges. PAC’s share of the bond allotment was $55 million.