Mar 12, 2025 By Paul Paterra 3 min read

With the closing date for the sale of the former Canonsburg Middle School set for next week, the conversion of the building into a community center moved a step closer.

Tony Colaizzo, president of the Canonsburg Educational & Cultural Institute (CECI), told borough council Monday that the tentative closing date is March 19. The organization previously declined to disclose the price until after the sale is finalized.

CECI is a nonprofit formed in 2021 whose mission is to provide enriching cultural opportunities to communities through outreach and related programs.

“We really believe that this is going to be a transformational opportunity for our town,” said Colaizzo. “The response, the feedback, the understanding we got from people in the industries we need to work with to make this happen have all been extremely positive. There is absolutely no doubt that this is going to have a significant positive impact on our community.”

The former Canonsburg Middle School opened in 1967 as Canon-McMillan Junior High School and continued serving students until January 2023, when a new middle school opened off Route 519.

Colaizzo said the first phase involves converting the 860-seat auditorium – once the venue for middle school plays and spring musicals – into a theater with between 500 and 600 seats with a reception area by the entrance. Lighting, sound and restrooms will receive upgrades and seats will be replaced. A parking lot will be built across the street.

“When the school became available we wanted to make it a productive thing that would enhance the town as opposed to something that already exists,” Colaizzo said. “We want to present to the community high-quality, top-notch performances. Our objective is to offer things to the community that don’t exist.”

Other plans include turning the gymnasium into a family recreational center, making the cafeteria into an area for restaurants and upgrading the classrooms to be used for adult education and children services, such as day care and preschool. Initial plans call for the swimming pool to remain.

Colaizzo said there has been a lot of interest from various groups to use the building.

In the past, Colaizzo said the entire project would carry a price tag of about $20 million. A grant from Canonsburg’s Department of Economic Development covered the cost of hiring a group to handle strategic planning and prepare mission statements. Colazzo said Monday help would be needed along the way.

“There’s lots of money involved,” Colaizzo said. “The whole operation will be tens of millions of dollars. But we figure with the phased-in approach we can bring something new into the community on a consistent basis over the next several years.”

Colaizzo said that as far as he knows, there are no similar cultural centers in Washington County. The plans for this building could fill that void.

“There are a number of people in the county that are very concerned about the arts dying in Washington County,” Colaizzo said. “This will give that a significant boost.”

Other moves unanimously approved by council Monday include:

Advertising Joseph Drive, John Drive and Lucia Drive for road paving and adding Gladden Road from First Street to Second Street as an alternate.

Submitting a grant application to the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for $125,000, which is 50% of the project cost of $250,000 for new restrooms at Canonsburg Town Park and a coinciding motion to approve a grant match not to exceed 50% of the total project.

Prohibiting parking at all times on the east side of Summit Avenue between Morgan Street and Taylor Alley.