The Texas Board of Education requires fine arts courses at the high school level for visual arts, dance, music, music studies, theatre, musical theatre, and technical theater. In response school districts across the state have elected to provide 21st Century, multi-purpose performing arts centers (PAC) enabling student choice in fulfilling requirements and opportunities.

Mission CISD requested ERO design two flexible PACs for a wide range of fine arts activities from theater to choir to mariachi for Mission and Veterans High Schools. The district specified a 400-seat performance venue providing 21st Century teachable spaces at a low budget.

ERO’s innovative design afforded a 17,659 gsf state-of-the-art performance hall which can be transformed into three full-service lecture halls which provide multi-disciplinary learning spaces. The stage is equipped with a Main Stage audio-visual and control system, TV infrastructure system, theatrical lighting and control system, 12 motorized line sets, 16 manual counter-weighted line sets, a full curtain package and a fully functioning catwalk. Also integrated is a drama classroom, boys’ and girls’ dressing rooms with restrooms and showers, a humidity controlled costume storage, a prop storage room with direct access to the backstage, a prop construction lab with direct access to an exterior service yard.

The exterior brick veneer is patterned in a tapestry motif emphasizing the tradition, history, and culture of the border region. The roof structure has a framed trellis that softens the South Texas sunlight and provides a welcoming entry which transitions the visitor to a warm, natural wood-grained panel walled performance hall. The Mission High School PAC experienced some design challenges. The site is limited, all existing trees had to be salvaged and the PAC was required to form a performance courtyard tying the building to the adjacent Sports Field House and parking lot.