The Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts and Sciences is a venue currently under construction in Lubbock, Texas. Groundbreaking took place on April 20, 2017 with more than 500 people in attendance, including Lubbock Mayor, Dan Pope, board chairman of the Lubbock Entertainment Performing Arts Association, Tim Collins, and President and CEO of Ballet Lubbock, Galen Wixen. The venue scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2020 at a cost of $153 million. To-date, LEPAA has raised close to $100 million needed to complete construction of The Buddy Holly Hall, with an additional $5 million raised in capital endowment funds.
History
In 2013, the non profit organization Lubbock Entertainment and Performing Arts Association was created in order to raise funds for the construction of a new performing arts center in Lubbock. In July of that year, Lubbock City Council granted the land on Mac Davis Lane soon to be vacated by Department of Public Safety Headquarters as the site for the new building. Initial plans for the building put construction costs at $85 million and then $116 million, however after collaborating further with community partners, scope for the building increased to level requiring the construction of a 220,000 square foot venue at the cost of $153 million. In June 2014, Buddy Holly's widow, Maria Elena Holly, gave LEPAA permission to use the name of her late husband in the title of the center, royalty free. As of January 2019, funding for completing the construction of the building requires a further $50 million.
Facilities
The building will have a footprint of 220,000 square feet, and will provide the following facilities:
Helen DeVitt Jones Main Theaterconsisting of a four level, 2,200 seat theater with two VIP lounges.
The Crickets Studio Theater', a 24,225 square foot, 425 seat theater with concessions, lounge area, dedicated lobby and private entrance.
Ballet Lubbock Pre-Professional Academy, a 22,000 square foot dance center complete with office and storage.
Multipurpose Event Room will be a dividable 6,000 square foot area suitable for a variety of functions such as lectures, receptions, banquets and meetings.
Food and Dining. A 2,500 square foot commercial kitchen to accommodate venue catering, plus an on-site Bistro with seating for 100 people.
Christine DeVitt Main Lobby. This area will serve as the main entrance to the hall and will accommodate 300 people for banquets, galas and weddings.
Opening
No firm date or performance has been given for the opening of the center, although Tim Collins, chairman of the board for LEPAA has cited Spring of 2020 as the target for opening.
