By Jennifer Mrozowski
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Ornamental turrets and red brick matches the historic flavor of its neighbor, Music Hall (left). | ZOOM |

(School for Creative and Perfomring Arts) | ZOOM |

Drawings unveiled Monday for the planned $52 million Cincinnati School for Creative and Performing Arts reveal a modern, five-story building with art studios surrounded by glass.

But with its red-brick facade and turrets, the school also complements its historic neighbor, Music Hall.

"Our architects and (public school officials) felt that we needed a building that fit into Over-the-Rhine," said Paul Bernish, executive director for the Cincinnati Arts School capital fund-raising campaign.

Plans show the K-12 Cincinnati Public magnet school would be built south of Music Hall with a main entrance on Central Parkway. It would house an 850-seat theater, an 11,000-square-foot media center and about 60 classrooms.

The board of education has committed to pay half the school's cost if the remainder can be raised through private funding. Mr. Bernish said donors have pledged about half of the $26 million the Cincinnati Arts School campaign must raise.

The school is to be built in the second phase of a district-wide rebuilding project that would require the passage of a $480 million bond issue. That phase begins in 2005.

E-mail jmrozowski@enquirer.com

About the new school

• Projected enrollment: 1,500 (draws students from across the Tristate).

• Replaces: Current School for Creative and Performing Arts (grades 4-12) in Pendleton and Schiel Primary School for Arts Enrichment in Corryville (grades K-3).

• To be built: Sometime after 2005, if funding comes together.

• Size of complex: 280,000 square feet.

• Estimated cost: $52 million ($26 million committed from CPS board of education, remaining $26 million raised privately)

• Famous SCPA alum: Actor Jeffrey D. Sams (Waiting to Exhale); actor Rocky Carroll (Chicago Hope, Roc); actor Todd Louiso; three of the four members of the pop boy band 98 Degrees (Drew and Nick Lachey and Justin Jeffre).