Chapman University breaks ground on $64-million arts center

Chapman University hosted a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday for its new $64-million Center for the Arts, a long-planned showpiece at the Orange County university.

Construction on the 83,000 square-foot performance hall is slated to begin next year. The center is set to open in 2015.

The space will be avenue for a variety of events -- including theater, classical music and community performances.

The school is planning collaborations with other arts venues and organizations throughout Southern California, the university said in a statement. School officials hope the center will elevate Chapman's standing in the local and national art scene.

Currently, Memorial Hall serves as the arts center on the Orange campus. The center opened in 1922 and has not been upgraded to reflect current performance standards, according to a statement.

The school is also considering adding arts majors such as musical theatre and arts management, subjects that could not be offered before due to a lack of space.

The school raised the $64 million through private donations, $25 million of which came from an anonymous donor.

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-- Nicole Santa Cruz

Image: Artist's rendering of the planned Center for the Arts at Chapman University. Credit: Chapman University