The construction of the new Centennial Arts Center (CAC) at Concord Academy, which began in 2023, has been highly anticipated by the student and faculty bodies alike. Many look forward to its opening, with the building offering new and upgraded facilities including a recording studio, dressing rooms, and soundproof practice rooms. Beyond its artistic resources, the building will also be a great gathering space where students can hang out together.
The CAC was originally scheduled to open in the spring of 2025. However, after evaluating progress this week, the construction team predicted a significant delay and the school announced a new estimated opening in 2035. This 10-year delay is due to a series of unforeseen challenges encountered through the process.
During the initial planning phase, professional architects debated various small design details, including whether the main entrance should have revolving doors or double doors. Supporters of revolving doors argued that the revolving doors’ circular and continuous motion aligned with the fluidity of art forms like dance. This makes it a fitting choice for the building’s artistic theme. On the other hand, some people focused on the practicality of the revolving doors and pointed out how it could be inconvenient. Even though it tied into the theme of the arts building, the double doors would provide a larger scale entry and be useful in emergency settings.
Another issue appeared when designing the dressing rooms. Given that the school is filled with teenagers, faculty expressed concerns about how students might use these private spaces. Some worried that students would host secret karaoke parties without inviting the teachers, while others feared that students might form a secret underground drama club. To this day, both issues remain unsolved and have been lingering in the minds of the school and the team of architects, creating a unique tension around campus.
As construction of the CAC began, additional challenges arose. When excavating, the construction crew believed they uncovered an underground tunnel system. It all started when the construction team saw unusual patterns in the soil. As the machinery dug deeper, they began to see openings and passageways. After bringing this news to the administration, faculty members were excited, sharing that they have always wanted to provide students with a passway to move between buildings without stepping outside. As such, the school has decided to take additional time and assess the tunnels and its conditions.
This unexpected discovery halted progress and this led to an extensive delay. The construction crew called in experts to carefully investigate these tunnels further, a process that took multiple months. However, upon closer inspection, they realized that the structures were merely old, discarded plumbing pipes. With so many obstacles, the construction crew required additional time to address these issues, leading to the significant delay in the building’s completion.
While this news may disappoint the two-and-a-half students eagerly awaiting the new space, the extra time is necessary to ensure the building is completed to the highest standard and provide an ideal environment for creating art and socializing.