LP Builds for the Future

Two new buildings—one with science classrooms, the other a multifunction events center—are planned for the campus of Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School.

School officials have been purchasing properties in downtown Midland to house the two new buildings, which will join the campus of LPPACS, the region’s premier arts education facility.

The slogan of the campaign is “Building Futures, Future Buildings.” Phil Orend, the president of the LPPACS Board of Trustees, said the new buildings will continue Lincoln Park’s mission to provide the best education possible for students.

“Since the beginning, everything we’ve done has been designed to benefit our incredible students, our amazing faculty and staff, and the people of Midland,” Orend said. “The new buildings we have planned are proof of our board’s commitment to the LP family.”

Orend added, “Lincoln Park has experienced incredible growth over the past 18 years. These new buildings will represent that growth in a way that will continue to make our community proud.”

Demolition began on several properties along Midland Avenue in 2023. The school’s board has contracted with the Shrader Group, a Philadelphia-based architectural firm, which has prepared plans for the two adjacent facilities.

School officials noted that plans for a new science building have been discussed for several years, but were interrupted by the global pandemic. The proposed arts and sciences facility would include brand-new science classrooms, and is also slated to include new dance studios for Lincoln Park students.

“Adding a new, cutting-edge science facility, and more rehearsal space for our dance department, has been at the top of our wish list for several years,” said Lincoln Park CEO P.K. Poling. “These new buildings will allow us to continue our mission of providing top-quality arts and academic education to students throughout Western Pennsylvania.”

Lincoln Park’s expansion plans also include a dedicated space for academic classrooms to serve its middle school population. This fall, Lincoln Park will transition its middle school students to the former Prima day care center for their academic courses.

The new facility, built in the early 2000s, has been completely refurbished. The grand reopening of the facility will take place in September 2024.

“We’ve added beautiful new classroom space for our middle school programs, which continue to grow,” Poling said. “This was a necessary step to better serve our youngest students.”

The public is encouraged to attend future meetings of Lincoln Park’s Board of Trustees to stay up to date on the progress of the school’s building projects, and to offer comments.

Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School is a tuition-free public charter school located in Midland, PA, and open to all Pennsylvania families. Students grades 7-12 are bused from more than 90 different school districts to study the arts concentration of their choice: theatre, writing and publishing, media arts, health science and the arts, music, dance, and pre-law and the arts.

For more information, visit lppacs.org or contact: admissions@lppacs.org