New Performing Arts Complex

Q1 2026 Project Update

New Performing Arts Complex

January - February

Winter rains have resulted in water saturation at the project site. The area was dried out and affected footings were repaired to ensure building integrity. Work was temporarily paused to allow the site to dry following rainfall in the first week of February, after which construction activities resumed. Minor slope repairs necessitated by recent rainfall have been completed without impact to the overall project schedule.

Fencing was realigned as part of the new scope of work assigned to SJ Amoroso in coordination with PPC, general contractor for the Wilshire Chiller Plant Relocation.

By the end of January, a below‑grade waterproofing inspection for the recital hall took place in the third week of January. The slab-on-grade concrete pour finished, and curing advanced to approximately 70 percent by early January. Concrete form work in the West Building was removed once the slab-on-grade concrete cured. Concrete was poured to form pier walls, or structural wall supports, on January 12 in the West Building followed by an additional curing period.

Additional reinforcement bars, scaffolding, and concrete blocks were delivered in preparation for concrete masonry unit (CMU) wall installation that started in the third week of the month. Spoils, or excavated soil, were removed from the site to support scaffolding assembly.
CMU wall construction progressed at the West Building, with temporary bracing and door frames being installed as the blocks were set. The first and second lifts of CMU wall construction was completed while the third and fourth lifts are underway. Grouting began in the last week of February.

The Recital Hall CMU walls are progressing through successive lifts, with the first lift completed.
In December, structural steel was installed in the recital hall section of the West Building. Steel fabrication for the remaining building took place off-site, with regular inspections by the laboratory of record (LOR). Crews are expected to begin placement of the structural steel to form the second level of the building in March; the entire process is projected to finish in April. Trenching to provide water to the fire suppression system inside the building is progressing.

Substantial progress has been made at the Orchestra Pit, where concrete wall construction is underway. Planned activities through early March includes reinforcement steel installation, concrete placement and curing, waterproofing, slab-on-grade preparation, and foundation drainage. Completion of the Orchestra Pit’s structural and masonry work is anticipated by early April, representing a key milestone for the project’s core facilities.

The Campus Project Team worked with general contractor, SJ Amoroso, to ensure appropriate sequencing to support project progress after the demolition of the old chiller plant in late January. The old chiller was demolished in the final week of January.
Grading in the demolished chiller plant footprint commenced in the first week of February. Foundation shoring operations to form the future East Building (located on the southeast side of the project site) are currently anticipated to begin in March; concurrently, the Architect of Record is addressing design adjustments to the shoring plan. The remaining foundation work will include caisson drilling, grade beam excavation, reinforcing steel installation, anchor bolt placement, and concrete pours, which is expected to continue through mid-March. These efforts mark the transition from site preparation to permanent structural foundations for the Auditorium and East Classroom Building.

Basement construction is expected to ramp up in March, involving caisson drilling, grade beam installation, pier cap excavation, and construction of the elevator and sewage ejector pits. Completion of basement foundations is projected for mid-April, aligning with the overall structural schedule for the project. The drilling rig arrived during the second week of February to enable the start of drilling activities.
Coordination with SCE continues as the design and installation of transformers required to power the building are finalized.
Key milestones were completed including the successful cutover of existing heating, and hot water (HHW) utility lines.
Coordination continues between the subcontractors, general contractor, vendors, and Architect of Record to finalize deferred submittals.