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Orange County Music & Dance Buys Irvine Building to Double Arts-Education Capacity
Orange County Music & Dance (OCMD), a Southern California nonprofit that offers after‑school performing‑arts programs for students from pre‑K through 12th grade, announced on July 7, 2026 that it has purchased a 24,700‑square‑foot, two‑story flex building at 17,872 Cowan Avenue in Irvine, California. The property was sold by Kimco Staffing Services for $10.8 million, or $438 per square foot.
The acquisition will give OCMD a second campus that will roughly double its instructional space. According to a PRNewswire release dated July 7, 2026, the new facility will allow the organization to increase enrollment capacity by 400 students and expand its program offerings. OCMD plans to open the new location in November 2026.
The Cowan Avenue building is located in Irvine’s central business district, a city that has seen steady demand for commercial real‑estate space. The purchase price of $10.8 million aligns with recent market trends for flexible office and educational properties in the area, where prices have hovered around $430–$450 per square foot.
Kimco Staffing Services, the seller, is a staffing firm that provides temporary and contract staffing solutions across a range of industries. The transaction was facilitated by Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), a global real‑estate services company. JLL representatives Wade Tift, Byron Foss, Nick Carey, and John Bosko were listed as contacts for the deal.
OCMD’s expansion reflects a broader movement among arts‑education providers in Southern California to increase access to performing‑arts instruction. The nonprofit’s current campus in Irvine serves more than 1,500 students and offers a curriculum that includes music, dance, theater, and visual arts. By adding a second location, OCMD will be able to offer additional classes, rehearsal spaces, and performance venues.
The new campus will also support OCMD’s goal of cultivating the “whole child,” a philosophy that emphasizes academic, social, and artistic development. The organization’s CEO, Ralph Opacic, highlighted the growth opportunities that the new building presents in a statement released with the purchase announcement.
The acquisition is part of OCMD’s long‑term strategy to broaden its reach in the Orange County region. The nonprofit has previously expanded its footprint through the acquisition of a former office building in Santa Ana, which was converted into a performing‑arts center.
In addition to expanding instructional capacity, the new building will provide OCMD with the flexibility to host community events, workshops, and collaborations with local schools and arts organizations. The facility’s two‑story layout allows for separate rehearsal studios, practice rooms, and a small auditorium.
The purchase was completed in July 2026, and OCMD plans to begin renovations in August. The organization has not yet released a detailed timeline for the opening of the new campus, but it is expected to coincide with the start of the 2026–2027 school year.
The transaction underscores the continued demand for educational real‑estate assets in the Irvine area, where population growth and a strong emphasis on arts education drive the need for additional facilities.
As OCMD prepares to launch its expanded programs, the nonprofit will likely seek additional funding through grants, donations, and community partnerships to support the new campus’s operational costs.
The acquisition marks a significant milestone for OCMD and the Irvine community, positioning the organization to serve a larger student population and to strengthen the region’s arts‑education infrastructure.
The acquisition will give OCMD a second campus that will roughly double its instructional space. According to a PRNewswire release dated July 7, 2026, the new facility will allow the organization to increase enrollment capacity by 400 students and expand its program offerings. OCMD plans to open the new location in November 2026.
The Cowan Avenue building is located in Irvine’s central business district, a city that has seen steady demand for commercial real‑estate space. The purchase price of $10.8 million aligns with recent market trends for flexible office and educational properties in the area, where prices have hovered around $430–$450 per square foot.
Kimco Staffing Services, the seller, is a staffing firm that provides temporary and contract staffing solutions across a range of industries. The transaction was facilitated by Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), a global real‑estate services company. JLL representatives Wade Tift, Byron Foss, Nick Carey, and John Bosko were listed as contacts for the deal.
OCMD’s expansion reflects a broader movement among arts‑education providers in Southern California to increase access to performing‑arts instruction. The nonprofit’s current campus in Irvine serves more than 1,500 students and offers a curriculum that includes music, dance, theater, and visual arts. By adding a second location, OCMD will be able to offer additional classes, rehearsal spaces, and performance venues.
The new campus will also support OCMD’s goal of cultivating the “whole child,” a philosophy that emphasizes academic, social, and artistic development. The organization’s CEO, Ralph Opacic, highlighted the growth opportunities that the new building presents in a statement released with the purchase announcement.
The acquisition is part of OCMD’s long‑term strategy to broaden its reach in the Orange County region. The nonprofit has previously expanded its footprint through the acquisition of a former office building in Santa Ana, which was converted into a performing‑arts center.
In addition to expanding instructional capacity, the new building will provide OCMD with the flexibility to host community events, workshops, and collaborations with local schools and arts organizations. The facility’s two‑story layout allows for separate rehearsal studios, practice rooms, and a small auditorium.
The purchase was completed in July 2026, and OCMD plans to begin renovations in August. The organization has not yet released a detailed timeline for the opening of the new campus, but it is expected to coincide with the start of the 2026–2027 school year.
The transaction underscores the continued demand for educational real‑estate assets in the Irvine area, where population growth and a strong emphasis on arts education drive the need for additional facilities.
As OCMD prepares to launch its expanded programs, the nonprofit will likely seek additional funding through grants, donations, and community partnerships to support the new campus’s operational costs.
The acquisition marks a significant milestone for OCMD and the Irvine community, positioning the organization to serve a larger student population and to strengthen the region’s arts‑education infrastructure.
