The only comprehensive arts magnet school in the Rocky Mountain region will be housed at the old Houston Fine Art Center (7111 Montview Blvd.) beginning in 2003. On Tuesday, April 30, DSA and DPS will celebrate this expansion at a ceremony at the future location scheduled for 10:00 a.m.

"This is the culmination of a dream for a lot of people in Denver," said Principal Patti Bippus. "Our academic and arts programs are very good now, but this new facility will give us the opportunity to accept more students and offer more programming that will move our program forward to realize our goal of being the finest comprehensive arts school in the country."

Students will be symbolic diggers at the ceremony. Also, three student performances are scheduled including a group called Four Square, a trumpet fanfare, and a poem recital to provide a taste of the tremendous talent DSA has to offer. Key "dreamers" who have contributed to this tremendous planning effort will be recognized and honored.

This new development includes renovation of the Houston Fine Arts existing building and an 114,000 square foot addition. This facility will have 28 more additional classrooms than the current location at 159 S. Pearl St. Throughout the campus you'll be able to find informal performance spaces as well as improved facilities for academics such as science labs. Special features include a main theatre, dance studio, orchestra hall with beautiful acoustics, and an acting studio.

"There will be much more space to perform," added Bippus. "And more space for the community to come and watch those performances. Our current auditorium can only hold an audience of about 200. The Houston Fine Arts center has a beautiful theatre that will seat 500 plus recital and dance performance spaces."

Founded in 1991, the sixth through twelfth grade school provides many unique opportunities for more than 600 students to nurture their creative talents in a supportive environment designed to encourage artistic and academic excellence. DSA students are some of the states' finest developing artists and performers. To be admitted, students must audition annually.

The architects/engineers for this project are Klipp Colussy Jenks DuBois/Semple Brown. The contractor is Taylor Ball/DRG.

Parking is limited around the Houston Fine Arts Center. If you would like to ride from DSA to the center with staff and students, please call the school by Friday, April 26th, at 303-722-4669 to reserve space on a bus.