Oregon City Schools, Clay Performing Arts Studio
Type of Construction
General Contracting
Square Footage
5,677
Construction Budget
$1,454,400
In 2021, The Oregon City Schools Board of Education approved the construction of the Performing Arts Studio capital project located at Clay High School. The project will remodel an existing 4,000 sq/ft warehouse building into a facility, which includes a multi-purpose dance and rehearsal studio, recording studio for music production, multi-purpose vestibule, dressing rooms, restrooms and storage space. An additional 1,000 sq/ft storage unit will also be added to the back of the facility.
Discussion and planning for the remodel began in 2019 when the Performing Arts program was integrated into the Career & Technology department. With this expanded space, experiences in dance and recording will be offered, allowing improved student preparation and artistic development. Students who want to pursue a career in the arts will now have a more comprehensive educational program and technical training upon completion of high school and the Clay arts program, Superintendent Hal Gregory, said.
The new performing arts studio will be named the Carol-Ann Molnar Performing Arts Studio in honor of the legacy of public service and monetary gifts Molnar has provided to Oregon City Schools. Molnar was a teacher for Oregon City Schools for 24 years, primarily in remedial math at the elementary level. After retiring in 2004, she continued to serve OCS in many capacities including being a member of the board of education for the past 11 years, serving as president for seven-and-a-half of those years.
Molnar, of Oregon, is also a Clay High School alumna. “Mrs. Molnar’s service to Oregon Schools has been exceptional, without judgement, and with pure intent. She is incredibly dedicated to providing the best opportunities for our students at all levels. The arts hold a special place in Mrs. Molnar’s heart. We are so proud to honor Carol in this special way by naming the new performing arts studio after her,” Gregory said.
The remodel design was led by Mike Rowe, architect with Buehrer Group Architecture and Engineering Inc. Rowe, a 1997 Clay High School graduate, has been working extensively on the details of this space with the Performing Arts department and administration to create areas that are flexible and functional.
Funding for the remodel and contingency will come from private pledged donations, previous sale of district owned land, district Medicaid reimbursement funds and federal ARP ESSER funding.
