Downtown McKinney’s historic courthouse-turned-theater is about to go quiet. The McKinney Performing Arts Center (MPAC) will close to the public on Feb. 1 as the city gears up for a roughly $10 million overhaul of the old Collin County Courthouse that houses the venue. City leaders say the renovation will bring back original architectural details while upgrading accessibility, seating and behind-the-scenes mechanical systems, and the building is expected to stay offline through the fall.
According to Community Impact, final performances at MPAC run through Jan. 17, public access ends Feb. 1 and construction is scheduled to begin Feb. 2. The outlet reports the project carries an approximately $10 million price tag, and city officials are eyeing an autumn 2026 reopening.
Renovation Work And Historic Preservation
The city is pitching the project as equal parts preservation and modernization. According to the City of McKinney, crews will take on a long list of infrastructure and restoration work, including HVAC, roofing and drainage repairs, elevator upgrades, plaster restoration and ADA improvements, along with a full refresh of public restrooms and theater seating.
The plan calls for a new metal-and-glass canopy at the main entrance, a basement gallery and studio space, and a reimagining of the courthouse’s original judge’s bench as a bar feature inside the Courtroom Theater. The city’s renovation page also includes renderings and a project timeline that officials say will be updated periodically as construction moves forward.
Who’s Doing The Work
Design responsibilities for the renovation will be led by Architexas. City council records show the council approved a professional services agreement to move the project into design, and later took up construction-manager-at-risk preconstruction services with Byrne Construction for the next phase of delivery.
Downtown Impact And Local Programming
During construction, the building and its public restrooms will be closed. The city says two alternative restroom locations will be available nearby, and about 10 parking spaces on the west side of Tennessee Street will be taken out of service for the duration of the work, as reported by Community Impact.
Local arts groups are already adjusting their plans. McKinney Repertory Theatre says it will shift to smaller, collaborative programming during the closure and aims to return to the Courtroom Theater later in 2026.
City officials frame the renovation as a way to honor the courthouse’s past while preparing MPAC for future audiences. Community events tied to downtown will continue during construction, and staff say they will share staging and access updates with the public as temporary sites and schedules are finalized.
