Mesa Arts Center

Mesa, AZ

A multi-purpose arts center, the Mesa Arts Center is dedicated to promoting greater knowledge of, and interaction with the visual and performing arts. The center is located in the heart of downtown Mesa. The impressive 210,000 ft2 community resource replaced the previous Mesa Arts Center that was built in the 1930s. A 1,600-seat lyric theater, 550-seat repertory theater, a 200-seat playhouse theater and a 99-seat signature theater are a few of the main attractions in the new building. In addition, the Mesa Arts Center includes classrooms, educational studios and galleries all within the six-acre public plaza.

The project involved complex lighting, acoustical, audiovisual, life safety, theater rigging, production communication, seating, and line of sight issues that required an in-depth understanding of performing arts centers. The Mesa Arts Center also features unique design elements. The signature sails in particular provide shade underneath the “Shadow Walk.”