The Temptations Mesa Arts Center - Ikeda Theater Mesa

The Mesa Arts Center is a performing and visual arts complex in downtown Mesa, Arizona. The venue began construction in 2002, and it was officially inaugurated for the public in 2005. The total construction cost of the entire project was $90,000,000. The performing and visual arts complex has a seating capacity of 1,600 for Tom and Janet Ikeda Theater, 550 for Virginia G Piper Repertory Theater, 200 for Nesbitt/Elliott Playhouse, and 99 for Anita Cox Farnsworth Studio Theater. It is operated and owned by the City of Mesa. The complex is home to Ballet Etudes, East Valley Children’s Theatre, Mesa Encore Theatre, Metropolitan Youth Symphony, Sonoran Desert Chorale, Southwest Shakespeare Company, Salt River Brass, and Phonetic Split.

Bora Architects of Portland did the architecture of the Mesa Arts Center. The entire complex’s architecture is post-modern, featuring canted walls, sloping roofs, sharp, jagged angles, glass walls, and much more. The Shadow Walk is one of the major pathways through the campus. This pathway is lined with sunken courtyards, performance spaces, outdoor gardens, water features, giant canopies, and stainless-steel pergolas. Apart from Shadow Walk, some public art has been added to the architecture to connect with the community. Some of the notable items are “Colorwalk” by Beth Galston, “Fragmented Landscapes” by Ned Kahn, “Memento” by Rebecca Ross, and “Light Storm” by Catherine Widgery.