Partners to Explore Possible Expansion of Tempe Center for the Arts

Over the next year, the City of Tempe and the Maricopa County Community College District will explore the possibility of a partnership to build a substantial addition to the Tempe Center for the Arts (TCA) that would be used for corporate trainings and special events. 

A Memorandum of Understanding to begin discussions was approved by the district Governing Board Feb. 25 and by the City Council Feb. 27. The city approached the district about the possibility of an expansion that would accommodate the district’s Corporate College, a program that creates and delivers customized workforce training to business clients. 

Discussions would involve building additional facilities onto the existing, 88,000-square-foot facility. The project may include a kitchen, restaurant, classrooms, a banquet room, conference room, and additional performance space and parking lot. If the partners decide to proceed by the end of the one-year collaboration and negotiation period, an Intergovernmental Agreement would be executed to formalize the plans and roles. 

The TCA is located at 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway, on the south bank of Tempe Town Lake. It was opened in 2007 and features a 600-seat main theatre, a black box studio, art gallery, and a bar/lounge and special events room with views of the lake. 

Any additions that result from the partnership would be designed to complement and enhance TCA’s focus as an arts venue. 

“The Tempe Center for the Arts has become just what our community hoped it would be from the start: a stunning, highly used icon that we can be proud of,” said Mayor Mark Mitchell. “It is time now to look at some exciting prospects for the center’s next chapter and see where they may lead all of us.” 

To read the Memorandum of Understanding, click on item 5C4 at http://1.usa.gov/1mCTYQd. 
The Maricopa Community College system is made up of 10 colleges – Chandler-Gilbert, Estrella Mountain, GateWay, Glendale, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Rio Salado, Scottsdale and South Mountain. It also includes Maricopa Skill Center and the Southwest Skill Center, Maricopa Corporate College and several satellite facilities.