Cassville School District | Performing Arts Center

The Cassville Performing Arts Center is a 28,000-square-foot facility designed to expand educational opportunities and enrich the cultural life of the district. The building connects seamlessly to the existing high school through a shared lobby.

Designed to accommodate more than 800 people, the auditorium features both fixed and retractable seating, allowing the floor space to transition from performance use to classroom or banquet-style events. Flexible learning spaces include a band classroom with direct access to the parking lot, a choir classroom with full-length mirrors to support show choir, and an auxiliary classroom that doubles as a green room with dedicated changing rooms and makeup counters. Interior finishes elevate the experience with dramatic lighting, Old-Hollywood-inspired custom marquee signage, and warm wood-slat acoustical panels.

By utilizing a pre-engineered metal building exterior, the project was able to stay within budget while still achieving a distinctive presence on campus. The design draws inspiration from the nearby FEMA shelter Paragon previously completed, while also complementing the architecture of the existing high school to create a cohesive overall campus aesthetic.

Set along a hillside with dramatic elevation changes, the site posed unique challenges but also created opportunities for thoughtful design. With more than five feet of elevation change inside the building, accessibility was carefully addressed through a series of ADA ramps and stair-stepped gathering areas in the lobby — solutions that maintain full connectivity while adding a natural sense of flow.

Outside, a retaining wall that spans the length of the Performing Arts Center and High School became the backdrop for a commemorative pathway featuring plaques honoring each graduating class — a meaningful touch that ties the facility to the community’s legacy. Additional site features include a new 100+ stall parking lot designed for large events, with infrastructure in place for electric bus charging and future EV car charging. A 50-yard football field is also striped on the parking lot, giving the band a dedicated practice space when the main field is unavailable.