The Segerstrom Center for the Arts announced plans for a transformation of their outdoor space to be designed by Michael Maltzan Architecture. The new design reimagines the Center's campus as a dynamic town square.
Through the renovation, the plaza, which will be anchored by a multipurpose outdoor stage to support community-wide events and performances of all sizes, will be reinvented as a site for active visitor engagement.
Long recognized as a leading West Coast venue for internationally lauded productions of ballet, opera, classical music, and theatre, the renovation of Segerstrom's plaza will transform the public experience of the performing arts complex, which houses two theaters, two concert halls, and is the future site of the Orange County Museum of Art.
The redesign is part of a three-part plan for Segerstrom's continued evolution as an integral part of the local community and innovative hub for performing arts internationally. Dubbed Next Act, the plan is supported by a $68-million capital campaign, which has raised more than $42 million to date.
The three transformative projects of the Next Act campaign include:
A redesigned public plaza for performance and events
Designed by Michael Maltzan Architecture, the Julianne and George Argyros Plaza reconceives the role of public space on the Segerstrom campus. The designs for the plaza center on a new, multipurpose community stage, situated in a large open public space bordered by three intimate green spaces: a Plaza Entry Grove, an Amphitheater Grove and a Community Picnic Grove.
A new center to support creative production and education
The newly established Center for Dance and Innovation (CDI) will house the American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School and commission new ballets, providing dance training in multiple genres, and fostering partnerships with local businesses and organizations. Located just off the new public plaza, CDI includes the pre-existing Judy Morr Theater, five newly renovated studios, and a new public patio in the plaza.
An enhanced program for civic engagement
The newly launched Center Without Boundaries program presents an innovative model for civic engagement, establishing collaborative partnerships with civic, business, and community leaders to develop outwardly facing programs designed to meet the needs of the county's diverse populations.