LOCAL

Target date for Holly Hall construction unchanged despite increased budget

Gallery owner Adams eager for Holly Hall to open in 'arts district'

William Kerns
An artist's rendering of the LEPAA banquet hall.

Despite an increased budget, and thus a boost in needed fundraising, construction of the proposed Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts and Sciences at the corner of Mac Davis Lane and Avenue L remains on schedule, according to Tim Collins.

Collins is president of the Lubbock Entertainment and Performing Arts Association (LEPAA).

Buddy Holly Hall initially was to include only a theater for entertainment performances, now listed with a capacity of 2,200.

The initial fundraising goal was $85 million, said Collins.

That cost has grown because of LEPAA's new partnership, or specifically "Memorandum of Understanding," with the Lubbock Independent School District. But Collins stated the exact amount of the budget increase has not been specifically established.

"We do not have an immediate figure yet," Collins said.

"We added two parts to Holly Hall specifically so we can work with LISD," said Collins, those being a smaller 425-seat theater and a 6,000 square foot multipurpose room.

In an Op-Ed piece in the March 22 Avalanche-Journal, Collins wrote that the smaller theater "will provide a unique setting for student performances from elementary through high school levels.

"This theater will also be used for University Interscholastic League competitions and smaller theater productions."

The multipurpose room, said Collins, can be "divided into warm-up space for band and orchestra competitions or serve as meeting rooms for a school or business conference."

He said the new spaces are dedicated for use by LISD on an as-needed basis.

Charles Adams, owner of the Charles Adams Gallery at 604 Ave. J., indicated that area businesses are thrilled by the additions to and appearance of Holly Hall.

"It will look wonderful," Adams said. "In fact, our only disappointment is that its opening date is so far down the line.

"But we feel like we have created a several-block arts district over here, and we are thrilled to have the future Buddy Holly Hall down here next to us."

Regardless of the budget increase, added Collins, "We still feel very comfortable and confident in completing our fundraising within the year. We are staying on target of beginning construction in early 2016."

Collins indicated the LISD "will assist with operational costs."

He also noted that money being raised now "for bricks and mortar" will reduce the amount that needs to be raised later "for an endowment."

By partnering with LISD, Holly Hall will attract more traffic, said Collins, and "thus serve the community in an even better way."

Matthew Lella, principal with Diamond Schmitt Architects, said, "Our vision for this facility is that it is perfectly at home on the global stage of performing arts centers, that it can compete with the best in the world, but that it is inspired by and in the spirit of Lubbock, West Texas and the South Plains."

Donations of $500,000 and $50,000 were recently made to the Holly Hall campaign by Plains Capital Bank and Atmos Energy, respectively.

william.kerns@lubbockonline.com

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