As busy high schoolers, it’s easy to get stuck in the Upper School bubble; however, on the other side of the bridge, a great change is underway. The Ahsan Center for Excellence in the Creative & Performing Arts is officially under construction and expected to be completed in January of 2026. With two floors, 600 seats (compared to only 287 in Dorrance), and a comprehensive array of classes featuring costume design, lighting, sound, set, makeup, and acting, this center will serve as a catalyst for new opportunities amongst students and teachers.
PCDS’s Director of Development, C. Ryan Joyce, says “Certainly, the performing arts center is the most ambitious project in the school’s history.” While the campaign that paid for the Najafi Gym, the Shin Center, and the Shepard Welcome Center totaled $25 million, the Ahsan Center alone will cost that much.
The performing arts center is only part of the Play On! campaign. At the beginning of 2027, a new theater building for music, art, and drama will replace the current music building in the middle school, which is the oldest academic facility on campus. The new building will be double its size, and will hold a black box theater, music recording rooms, dance elements, and even an art gallery.
Even if you aren’t a thespian, don’t fret because there’s more on the Play On! agenda. New soccer and baseball fields and a full-fledged track are coming in early 2027. Additionally, there will be a wellness center nearby with student locker rooms, bathrooms, and a concession stand.
Mr. Joyce hopes that the new facilities on campus will benefit the PCDS community the same way past projects have enriched student experience. He contends, “Before we built the pool, our student team was…fine. And suddenly, we built that Olympic sized pool, the training pool, and those locker rooms and facilities, and it became a much more cool thing to do.”
Once the Play On! Campaign is completed in 2027, the new facilities are expected to spark enthusiasm across the PCDS community as the THRIVE campaign did several years ago.