McCarthy Building Companies (McCarthy), an esteemed American-owned construction and general contracting firm, in collaboration with HGA Architects & Engineers(HGA), an integrated architecture, engineering and planning firm, and the San Juan Unified School District (San Juan Unified), is pleased to announce that construction has commenced on El Camino Fundamental High School’s new performing arts center.

The performing arts center is one of nine projects in the district supported by the four-phase Measure N Signature Project program, a $350 million bond measure passed by voters in 2012.

“The new center will provide students with a unique and valuable arts education experience that will enhance their appreciation, as well as offer a quality, affordable alternative to community groups in need of a place to stage events,” said San Juan Unified’s Director of Facilities Construction and Modernization Brett Mitchell. “We’re thrilled with the positive response this project has received and look forward to providing a modern, state-of-the-art facility that will serve the region for years to come.”

The new, roughly 11,600 square-foot facility will provide much-needed space for the school’s award-winning music and drama programs. The theater will feature a raised stage, a control room, dressing rooms, 500 fixed seats and 100 portable seats in the orchestra area, a ticket booth, and a lobby area equipped to showcase student artwork. It will be used for a variety of school and community lecture and performance functions.

For Kevin Glaser, the groundbreaking at El Camino Fundamental High School on June 6th served as catharsis. Glaser, El Camino’s longtime band director, said the school’s arts community has pushed and fundraised in support of a performing arts center for the past 10 years. El Camino’s campus does not currently have a venue that can seat 500 people, but performances often draw crowds of that size, Glaser said. The groundbreaking means his dream has become a reality.

“The school was built in 1950,” Glaser said. “It’s been my position that El Camino has needed a performing arts center for 67 years.”