Texas Border Business
By Amanda Sotelo
The Cooper Center for Performing Arts at South Texas College is undergoing a major expansion, a long-time goal for the college that is finally coming to fruition and was recently celebrated with a groundbreaking ceremony among college administration, Board of Trustees, students, faculty, staff and community partners.
“As we break ground on a project that has been several years in the making, we celebrate that we will finally have our performing arts programs – Theatre, Dance and Music together, under one roof. The Fine arts are a vital component of a higher education,” said STC Vice President and Provost for Academic Affairs and Economic Development Anahid Petrosian, Ph.D. “I thank our Board of Trustees, the leadership of our administration for the continued support and advocacy that made this possible.”
The $8.4 million project expands STC’s Cooper Center, originally built in 2008, by 14,520 square feet, which will provide state-of-the-art facilities that will include studio offices, music classrooms, music and percussion rehearsal spaces, practice rooms and an adaptable music venue.
With this expansion, which is expected to be completed by 2026, Petrosian describes the Cooper Center as more than just a performance space.
“It is home to the arts at STC,” she said. “It’s a space where students, musicians, dancers and performers can learn, rehearse, collaborate and share their work with the community.
Except for the Theatre program, which is mostly housed in the Cooper Center, the Music and Dance programs are currently located at STC’s Pecan Plaza and STC’s Humanities Building, and the Percussion program uses two portable buildings.
STC Dean for Liberal Arts Christopher Nelson, Ph.D., said that the groundbreaking marks a momentous step forward and explained that the expansion consists of two phases: northwest and northeast.
“The northwest expansion will be built to accommodate rehearsal spaces for large ensembles, including an 80-person orchestra, small ensembles, numerous classrooms practice rooms, numerous lockers and storage space,” explained Nelson. “The northeast expansion will house the entirety of the Percussion Department, which includes a drumline room and faculty studio. There will also be a new dance studio for our Dance program.”
Nelson went on to explain that this large project will allow the departments to not only function, but flourish.
“With these new expanded facilities, we’ll be able to better serve and recruit performing art students and better educate and prepare them for their artistic journey. Our students and faculty deserve a world-class facility, and this expansion is bringing that to STC.”
The expansion will also bring potentially newfound partnerships. The new rehearsal area is currently being considered as a possible rehearsal space for the Valley Symphony Orchestra.
STC President Ricardo J. Solis, Ph.D., said the new and improved Cooper Center will be a multipurpose building for STC and the community at large.
“This unique addition to the college will accommodate our students, to learn and grow, and professionals in our community to continue sharing the arts among our resident of the RGV. These are exciting times, and we thank our Board of Trustees, and everyone involved in this project for their vision and dedication in making this a reality,” said Solis. “Additionally, we want to thank our taxpayers, for giving us this opportunity to expand our Fine Arts facilities, so we can continue to support our musicians, dancers and stage artists. STC’s Cooper Center is, and will continue to be, the place where creativity begins.”
The Cooper Center groundbreaking is the first of two such events that will happen this month. The next groundbreaking is scheduled on May 28 for the college’s brand-new Continuing Education building.
For more information on STC’s Dance, Theatre and Music programs, visit southtexascollege.edu
