Groundbreaking at PAC

Construction of Highlands Performing Arts Center expansion begins

  • Photo by Christopher Smith/Staff Jeanne Mullin: Highlands Playhouse Board, Craig Eister: Highlands Cashiers Players Board, Brad Armstrong: Building Committee, Charlotte Muir: PAC Board, Mary Adair Trumbly: PAC Executive Director, Martha Pearson: Highlands Cashiers Chamber Music Festival Board, Jane Webb: PAC Board, RIck Trevathan: PAC Board, Geri Coleman: PAC Board, Wade Coleman: Building Committee Chair, John Eastman: PAC Board all with their shovels.
    Photo by Christopher Smith/Staff Jeanne Mullin: Highlands Playhouse Board, Craig Eister: Highlands Cashiers Players Board, Brad Armstrong: Building Committee, Charlotte Muir: PAC Board, Mary Adair Trumbly: PAC Executive Director, Martha Pearson: Highlands Cashiers Chamber Music Festival Board, Jane Webb: PAC Board, RIck Trevathan: PAC Board, Geri Coleman: PAC Board, Wade Coleman: Building Committee Chair, John Eastman: PAC Board all with their shovels.

    Last Friday the Highlands Performing Arts Center broke ground on its new $11 million theatre.

    PAC director Mary Adair Trumbly said the project management, the construction company, the architects, the designers, the theatrical company  have met  twice a month for over a year.

    “Everyone heard all the questions and solved all the concerns together,” Trumbly said. “This all started at a PAC Board retreat in August 2015 after Mayor Pat Taylor wrote an article about a dream of having all the performing arts under one roof. Which meant a new theater.”

    Phase one of the project was the Laurel Street parking lot with the water drainage and retention and the underground conduits. Phase two is now underway, which is the actual construction of the new theatre.

    The PAC executive board recently released a full cost statement stating that the entire project would cost $11 million.

    “Our construction contract has a maximum guaranteed cost of $9.4 million, though we are anticipating some further cost savings, and our total project cost, which includes design, engineering, furnishings, technical equipment, expanded and enhanced parking, and related expenses, is $11 million,” The board said in their statement. “Given the significant inflation that has taken place in the construction industry during the last year, we are extremely pleased to be able to build a first-class facility for the community at this cost.  We are, however, continuing to seek important financial support from the community which is needed to bridge the gap between our original budget and the total project cost.”

    By Christopher Smith