22 FEBRUARY 2026 By Rachael Bouley Phoenix Country Day School celebrated the grand opening of the largest structure ever built in its nearly 65-year history: The Ahsan Center for Excellence in the Creative & Performing Arts. The $24 million, almost 24,000-square- foot facility includes a 600-seat theater, performance and rehearsal spaces, and specialized production and support areas designed to elevate arts education for pre-k through grade 12 students. “This new, transformative arts facility represents a milestone in PCDS’s commitment to artistic innovation, collaboration, creativity, and student expression,” Director of Communications Chris Martinez said. The Ahsan Center was made possible through the collective philanthropy of donors to PCDS’s Play On! Campaign – the most ambitious campaign in school history, according to Martinez – including parents, alums, grandparents, and friends, with the Ahsan family’s generosity naming the building. The school’s strategic plan emphasizes the visual, digital, and performing arts as central to students’ experience by fostering meaningful connections and deeper self- understanding. However, the school needed updated facilities to support these endeavors, and thus, building a state-of-the- art performance center was identified as a strategic priority. Construction began in June 2024 and ended in November 2025 – which was ahead of schedule – giving students and staff much to look forward to. “The new center provides students with a professional-quality environment, enhancing the arts experience across all divisions and ensuring they continue to thrive as a vital part of PCDS,” Martinez said. Salter Performance Hall will house the majority of music and theater acts. It will also be used for select guest performances, speakers, school ceremonies, and more. Behind the scenes, students will hone their skills in costuming, scene building, and technical theater, with a professional-grade stagecraft and scene shop, a costume lab, and three dedicated dressing and makeup rooms. The new building also includes spacious rehearsal and lobby areas, a 150-seat balcony, and innovative sustainable systems, including LED lighting, solar-reflective materials, and high-efficiency HVAC. The main-floor lighting and sound are designed so that theater technology students are fully visible during productions, rather than hidden away, and there are side stages instead of a traditional orchestra pit, ensuring musicians remain clearly visible with flexible staging for a variety of productions. The cyclorama projection screen and system is another special feature, as this large, curved backdrop on the stage creates immersive projections and lighting effects. All of these features and more were proudly on display at the grand opening, which began with a reception in the Taira Family Breezeway featuring a string performance by senior Audrey Weinshel and string teacher Maurine Fleming. The Ahsan and Salter families led the ribbon- cutting ceremonies, followed by a musical performance by faculty and a tour of the theater and collaborative arts environments. “The grand opening hit me on a much greater emotional level than I expected. The fact that this moment, when the building and all the fantastic art that we will begin creating in the space has arrived, got me all choked up,” Director of Arts Keith Burns said. Among the 175 guests in attendance were donors, arts faculty members, and representatives from Chasse Building Team, ADM Group, Inc., and Foursite Consulting. The project partners were recognized on Hope Stage, with remarks from the Board of Trustees President Martin Felli and Head of School Andy Rodin. “I thought back through all the phases of designing, developing, and planning, the ups and downs of the process, and the exceptional support from the PCDS community... how it all culminated with the spectacular opening ceremony was delightfully overwhelming,” Burns said. The Ahsan Center for Excellence in the Creative & Performing Arts is not open for public events, but will host school-related performances and gatherings. It’s part of ongoing campus improvements, including the upcoming Reese House for Music, Art & Theater. pcds.org $24M state-of-the-art performance center debuts at PCDS PHOTOS COURTESY OF CHRIS MARTINEZ Salter Performance Hall features a 600-seat theater, advanced lighting, and flexible staging. At the grand opening, students gathered to perform for guests on the brand-new stage. The Ahsan Center for Excellence in the Creative & Performing Arts opened in December. TOD SPA EST. 1989 LIFE SUN SPA Tod 480-388-7107