Finance committee backs scaled performance-and-visual arts facility for Eastern Loudoun, directs $500,000 for planning

The Loudoun County Finance, Government Operations and Economic Development Committee on Jan. 14 recommended that the Board of Supervisors pursue a scaled performance-and-visual arts facility in Eastern Loudoun and directed staff to set aside $500,000 from contingency for planning, preliminary design and site assessment for inclusion in the FY2026 Capital Improvement Program.

The committee’s recommendation follows a yearlong study and public outreach process led by the county’s Department of Transportation and Capital Infrastructure and an architectural consultant, Paige Sutherland Page. The study offered three options: a multi-building performance-and-visual-arts campus, a scaled single-building performance-and-visual facility, and a large community arts center. Staff reported that the scaled performance-and-visual option best balanced community feedback, space needs and cost estimates.

Committee members heard presentations from the project team, including Don Bridal, assistant director for facilities at DTCI, and Bob Perry, principal with the consultant Paige Sutherland Page, who summarized community meetings and the program options. Perry said the study narrowed community preferences toward mixed-use and community arts center models and presented sizes, operating-cost estimates and rough construction costs ranging from about $158 million for the scaled option to about $219 million for the multi-building campus.

Supervisors debated the tradeoffs of scale, operating cost and the community’s stated preference. Supporters of the larger, campus-style option said a bigger venue would better retain the Loudoun Symphony and could attract outside partners and professional touring acts; supporters of the scaled facility said it better matched the community’s stated needs and the county’s near-term funding capacity.

Supervisor Sainz moved that the committee recommend the campus option and that staff use $500,000 of contingency funding for planning and design; that motion failed 2-3. Chair Randall then moved the scaled performance-and-visual-arts facility option and the funding direction; the committee approved that motion 3-2, with Supervisors Sainz and Umstead voting no.

Staff said the $500,000 would be used for early planning tasks: schematic-level concepts, site assessments and a package to pursue partners and grant opportunities. Perry told the committee the scaled option would be roughly 112,000 square feet, with estimated operating costs in the neighborhood of $4.7 million annually and an 8-acre site footprint as presented in the study materials.

Committee members emphasized that, even if the committee’s recommendation becomes a board priority, actual construction would be many years out and that the county would need outside partners or philanthropic contributions to fully fund a larger, multi-building campus. Supervisor Letourneau and others urged staff to use the planning phase to engage potential partners and to avoid starting detailed designs that could become obsolete if construction funding is not secured.

The committee directed staff to prepare the requested contingency appropriation and to include a CIP scenario showing the project and the $500,000 planning allocation for future board CIP discussions. The committee also asked staff to return with more detailed site options and cost refinements during the FY2026 budget process.

If the full Board of Supervisors endorses the committee recommendation, staff will proceed with preliminary planning work and outreach to potential partners and funders. The timeline for design, permitting and construction was not set and depends on future board decisions and funding availability.