Fullerton College President Cynthia Olivo, second from left, led the first group of shovels into the ground.

The new performing arts facility unites music and theatre programs in collaborative spaces

Ground was officially broken November 19, 2025, for Fullerton College’s new 76,000-square-foot Music & Drama Complex in Fullerton, CA. The new complex will consolidate the College’s performing arts programs under one roof and address the need for a modern, efficient and safe environment for those programs and for community events.

Elevating the college’s performing arts programs—one of the most diversified theatre and music curricula and production schedules of all of California’s community colleges—the  state-of-the-art facility will include a 550-seat multiuse proscenium theater, 100-seat black box studio, 200-seat recital hall, choral rehearsal room, band room, recording studio, admin offices and support spaces, all linked by a series of indoor-outdoor plazas and the lobby, sparking interdisciplinary collaboration.

Speaking to the assembled faculty, Fullerton city officials, community members and students, Chancellor Byron Clift Breland declared, “The performing arts center we break ground on is not merely a building, it’s a promise, a promise that the arts will always have a place in our community . . . the promise that every student who walks through these doors will be met with dignity and the possibility of the fullness of expression they deserve.”

The overall design of the two-story Music & Drama complex, influenced by its historically significant neighborhood, is developed in the Spanish Colonial Revival Style, highlighting the unique characteristics of the style in a contemporary interpretation.

Sustainability was a central concern of the design, which meets LEED Silver-equivalent standards. The project will exceed Title 24 by 15% and incorporates sustainable strategies of high-performance building design, energy efficient systems and water conservation measures.

 The project is scheduled for completion in 2028.

Project team members, including Perkins Eastman Associate Principals Sonya Lester, center, and Phillip Templeton, fourth from right.

Rendering of the new Music & Drama Complex

ABOUT PERKINS EASTMAN

Perkins Eastman is a global design practice founded on the belief that design has the power to enhance people’s lives. With over 1,000 professionals across 25 multidisciplinary studios worldwide, our Human By Design philosophy places people at the center of every solution. This approach has guided the firm for over 40 years resulting in sustainable environments that respond to complex needs. Transforming challenges into opportunities, we connect people with their surroundings and each other—going beyond aesthetics to create meaningful places and thriving communities. For more information: perkinseastman.com.

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