Coming after decades of celebrated success consistently hosting Tony® Award-winning theatrical and musical performances, Segerstrom Center for the Arts (SCFTA), now among the most renowned cultural institutions in the United States, is scheduled to complete a series of transformative projects by late 2016 that will further catapult it to among the great performing art venues anywhere. There will be a series of initiatives to embolden its outdoor plaza — known as the Julianne and George Argyros Plaza — as well as to introduce the Center for Dance and Innovation and Center Without Boundaries. The reimagined SCFTA is being supported by a $68-million fundraising campaign.
The centerpiece of the newly imagined SCFTA is The Julianne and George Argyros Plaza, designed by Michael Maltzan Architecture, which reinterprets the existing outdoor space, transforming it into a more powerful public gathering place, unifying the community with a host of new guest amenities and a public stage. On many weekends, a range of free events will be presented at the plaza, incorporating technology amenities like free Wi-Fi and enhanced lighting and sound.
“Orange County has long needed a public space where its communities can come together and enjoy performances and activities of all kinds,” said Julianne Argyros, one of the major donors of the initiative, in a statement.
A visually striking grand staircase will connect Segerstrom Hall to the plaza level below. The circular geometry of the stair compliments SCFTA’s theme by enhancing pedestrian connections across the complex.
The Center for Dance and Innovation (CDI), also designed by Maltzan, will be created to support the SCFTA’s flagship artistic programs and act as a catalyst for initiatives celebrating innovation and creativity. The CDI will include the American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School. The CDI’s programs will include dance training and new ballets.
The CDI will offer artists, entrepreneurs, students, leaders and community members opportunities to collaborate through classes, events, workshops and residencies.
“Its potential is unlimited in how it can not only support the goals of the ABT William J. Gillespie School, and the development of new choreographers so important to the future of dance, but also impact the way we think about all performance, how it relates to other disciplines and technologies and, perhaps most importantly, how we challenge ourselves to explore new ideas,” said Kevin McKenzie, artistic director of the American Ballet Theatre, in a statement.
The Center Without Boundaries is a new model for civic engagement, bringing the community together by partnering with local non-cultural organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters and Children’s Hospital of Orange County. The collaborations will focus on helping the needs of Orange County.
“Once again, Segerstrom Center for the Arts is setting a new standard for community engagement and public programs that equals its commitment to artistic excellence,” said John L. Ginger, chairman of SCFTA, in a statement.
