Frisco Center for the Arts

Planning Project 2023 - 2025

Project history

The City of Frisco has been studying the possibility of a new center for the arts for over 6 years and has completed several studies and assessments to support the future planning of the project. Envisioned as a hub for cultural enrichment, arts & culture, entertainment, and community engagement, the planning for the future of this critical Frisco asset is well underway.

During the summer of 2023, Theatre Projects in collaboration with Keen Independent Research concluded a feasibility study that explored the current and future arts and entertainment market in Frisco and the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area and outlined suggested business planning and concept development for the potential arts and entertainment center. You can find the 2023 Frisco Center for the Arts Business Plan report here:

In Fall 2023, the City of Frisco City Council approved the 18-month project planning process, led by Theatre Projects in collaboration with Keen Independent Research to further develop the concept. The project team includes:

Project management: Theatre Projects

Theatre planning & concept design: Theatre Projects

Research & development: Keen Independent Research, Theatre Projects

Site analysis: Turner & Townsend Heery LLC, Theatre Projects

Costing: Cost+Plus

Funding: CCS Fundraising, Keen Independent Research

In January of 2024, members of the project team presented round one of the concept design for the potential new Frisco Center for the Arts. The initial concept overview can be found here:

Concept evolution

On June 25 2024, members of the project team presented a project update to City of Frisco City Council to share initial findings from community engagement and developments with potential partners. City Council provided direction regarding an evolution of the concept for the arts complex. The presentation is available here:

The next phases of work include several opportunities for community engagement in which the project team involved the Frisco community in conversations about elements of the prospective new center for the arts, including site, size, operations, and access.

Community engagement

Theatre Projects and Keen Independent Research are implementing comprehensive community engagement for the proposed center for the arts in Frisco.

• An interactive survey was launched to share design concepts and solicit written feedback from the public. This interactive survey was open from May 6, 2024 until May 26, 2024.

• On May 15, 2024, Theatre Projects hosted two open house sessions at City Hall:
• Local arts organizations provided feedback on the overall design concept and the facility program.
• The general public received an update on project progress and provided feedback via listening sessions.

• On May 29, 2024, Theatre Projects and Keen Independent Research hosted a virtual open house via Zoom:
• This was an opportunity to educate the public on project progress and solicit feedback.
• This session also provided a recap of the trends emerging from the input of the in-person town hall event.

• On June 26, 2024, Theatre Projects and Keen Independent hosted an open house session at City Hall:
• Local arts organizations received an update on project progress and provided feedback on the updated design concept and the facility program.

• On July 16, 2024 from 5:00pm to 6:30pm, Theatre Projects and Keen Independent hosted an open house session at Frisco Public Library:
• Frisco community members will receive an overview of concept evolution and summary of interactive survey data.

• An interactive survey was conducted in July 2024 to solicit potential utilization from future users.

Upcoming meetings

• City Council Decision Milestone Presentation: August 20, 2024
• Community Engagement Sessions: Spring 2025 (schedule TBA)
• Milestone 2 City Council Presentation: Spring 2025

Project plan

Next steps include the further exploration of the development, cost, and design of this potential new facility. The goal of this phase of the analysis is to provide the City of Frisco with a clear understanding of the size, cost, scale, and impact of a potential arts and entertainment center in the city.

Divided across three phases of work, the project team has begun the first and second phases (1A & 1B) of the project, which includes tours of facilities across the country, development and analysis of a club model, concept design, site analysis, and project costing.

Phase 1A key milestones (8 months)

Phase 1B key milestones (4.5 months)

Phase 2 key milestones (9 months)

Project hotline

We’d love to hear from you! For questions or comments about the project, please contact the project team at [email protected] or call 945-205-0766.

This website will also be updated based on availability of information, and you can also join our email list by entering your contact information here:

About the project team

This project is led by Theatre Projects in collaboration with Keen Independent Research and with the guidance of the Frisco City Council and the Frisco City Manager's Office.

Theatre Projects is a globally recognized planning and design firm focusing on the full life cycle of arts, culture, and entertainment projects including feasibility, concept, design, programming, and operations. We integrate our work to support and create gathering spaces that are feasible, sustainable, and fit for purpose—today and into the future.

Keen Independent Research is a national research firm with expertise in arts and culture. Keen Independent provides economic, financial, and market research and focuses on finding the human stories behind the numbers.

Cost+Plus is a professional firm dedicated to providing Project and cost management services for new and renovation cultural facility projects worldwide.

Turner & Townsend Heery LLC is a full-service project and program management firm with offices in Dallas, TX. It specializes in project and program management for public sector organizations, with industry-leading experts in K-12 education, higher education, cultural, healthcare, justice, sports, aviation, and government facilities.

CCS Fundraising is a leading expert in campaign and development strategy. CCS plans and implements fundraising initiatives to help mission-driven organizations meet their most pressing challenges and achieve their ambitious goals.