Fullerton College Breaks Ground on Future Performing Arts Center

Posted on November 26, 2025

Fullerton College recently held a groundbreaking ceremony in honor of its future Performing Arts Center building. Home to the arts, performance and human expression, this new addition will be the catalyst of success for the fine arts community at the college. 

“The Performing Arts Center will be a place where the spirit of our college rises, and I believe the arts opens our hearts—it touches the soul and moves us toward connection and collective possibility. Whether it’s a song, instrumental music, theater or producing behind the scenes, I’m looking forward to a home where our students can create boldly and express the fullness of who they are,” said President Cynthia Olivo. “This building will stand as a beacon of hope and imagination for students, community members and future Hornets for generations. I’m so proud to be delivering this much needed and highly anticipated project to fruition with an incredible team who truly care about the future of Fullerton College.” 

The ceremony included welcome remarks from President Olivo, North Orange County Community College District (NOCCCD) Chancellor Byron D. Clift Breland, California Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva, Fine Arts Dean Grant Linsell and Vice President of Administrative Services, Henry Hua. The event also invited musical theatre students and Music Professors Bruce Babad and Michael Scott for special performances. 

Musical theatre students showcased their talents in an exciting performance led by Theatre Arts Professor Arthur Ross. Ross trained and prepared our performers, presenting the work that goes on behind the scenes.

Among other local community leaders were City of Yorba Linda Mayor, Janice Lim, and Council Member, Shivinder Singh. 

Located at the prominent intersection of Chapman Avenue and North Lemon Street, this building will house a variety of performance and instructional spaces, all while centering on the needs of the performing arts programs.  

“This new Performing Arts Center, with its nearly 78,000 square feet of rehearsal, performance, classroom, laboratory and office space will bring together the music and theatre arts departments into a state-of-the-art facility,” said Dean Linsell, “The spaces have been beautifully designed to both match the overall WPA-era aesthetic of the campus and provide a forward-looking environment for our nationally recognized performing arts programs to continue to grow and evolve. We are so excited to have a quality facility that matches the quality of our programs, faculty, staff and students.” 

Dean Linsell shares a passionate message about why the arts are more important than ever in today’s climate. An inspirational moment, he also speaks on this new space’s mission to elevate aspiring artists and performers into successful careers.
NOCCCD Vice Chancellor of Finance and Facilities Fred Williams, Fullerton College President Olivo, NOCCCD Board President Jeffrey P. Brown, Trustee Ryan Bent, Board Vice President Barbara Dunsheath and NOCCCD Chancellor Byron D. Clift Breland pose for a photo in honor of the official groundbreaking, signaling a new beginning for the fine arts community. 

Estimated to be completed in 2028, this effort could not have been possible without S.J. Amoroso and Kitchell Construction, Fullerton College’s Capital Projects and Administrative Services teams and the local community’s investment of Measure J tax dollars.  

Learn more about the Performing Arts Center’s progress, infrastructure and goals on the Theatre Arts Department website.