Central Arizona College Breaks Ground on Cultural and Performing Arts Center at Signal Peak Campus

$102 million project to restore cultural cornerstone, expand academic programs and elevate arts access across Pinal County

Central Arizona College marked a major milestone on March 31, breaking ground on a 91,000-square-foot Cultural and Performing Arts Center at its Signal Peak Campus in Coolidge. The $102 million, ground-up facility is designed to restore and significantly expand performing arts opportunities for students and the surrounding community following the 2023 collapse of the Pence Center auditorium roof.

The groundbreaking ceremony brought together college leadership, elected officials and community stakeholders, including Governing Board President Gilbert Lopez; Governing Board Member Evelyn Casuga; Governing Board Member Dr. David Odiorne; Coolidge Mayor John Thompson; and Casa Grande Mayor Lisa Navarro Fitzgibbons.

Located at 8470 N. Overfield Road, the new center is expected to be completed in fall 2027 and will serve as a dynamic cultural hub for Pinal County, blending performance, education and community engagement in a single, state-of-the-art destination.

“Today is about more than breaking ground on a building; it is about restoring a vital cultural and educational cornerstone for our college and the communities we serve,” said Dr. Jackie Elliott, president and chief executive officer of Central Arizona College during the groundbreaking event. “In the wake of the Pence Center loss, we saw an opportunity to reimagine what a performing arts facility could be. This new center will not only bring performances back to campus, but will expand access, elevate programming, and create a space where creativity, collaboration and connection can thrive for generations.”

The facility’s south half will be anchored by a 1,000-seat theater designed to support professional-level productions. The venue will include a 95-foot-tall fly tower, allowing scenery, curtains and lighting to be lifted and stored above the stage for rapid transitions and complex performances. A gridiron above the stage will support advanced rigging systems, while a 26-foot proscenium opening will frame performances for optimal audience experience.

Additional theater features include a dedicated control room, accessible catwalks for lighting and technical operations, dressing rooms, private STAR rooms for lead performers, a green room and a large scene shop for set construction. The venue is also designed to accommodate touring productions, with loading areas that allow semitrailers to connect directly to built-in power systems for efficient setup. Guests will be welcomed by a dramatic glass curtain wall entrance, as well as amenities including a concessions bar, box office and a state-of-the-art acoustical system.

“The scale and sophistication of this project reflects Central Arizona College’s commitment to creating a facility that rivals professional venues while remaining deeply rooted in community access and student success,” said Barry Chasse, founder of CHASSE Building Team. “As a 100% employee-owned Arizona company, it is especially meaningful for our team to help bring a project like this to life in Pinal County, delivering not only a world-class performance space, but also a place where future careers and creative passions can take shape.”

Designed by Architekton and constructed by CHASSE Building Team, the center extends far beyond performance. Integrated classrooms and labs will support programs in entertainment industry technology, as well as ceramics and kiln operations, metals and welding, hospitality training and culinary arts.

A professional teaching kitchen will anchor the culinary program and support a second-floor banquet facility designed to host community events, meetings and private functions, creating a potential revenue-generating asset for the college.

At the heart of the building will be an interior courtyard, designed as a welcoming gathering space featuring cast-in-place seating, string lighting and shaded areas for students and visitors. Steel pedestrian bridges will connect the facility across landscaped portions of campus, further integrating the center into the broader Signal Peak environment.

Once complete, the Cultural and Performing Arts Center will position Central Arizona College as a vibrant regional destination for the arts, with plans to host a diverse calendar of performances, workshops and community events that highlight local talent while attracting national touring productions. The center will also foster partnerships with local artists and organizations, expand educational initiatives and provide hands-on learning opportunities for students pursuing careers in the arts and related industries.

“From day one, our vision has been to create a space that belongs to the entire community,” said Elliott. “This center will be a place where people come together to learn, perform, celebrate and be inspired, building pride and connection across Pinal County.”

With five full-service campuses strategically located throughout the region, Central Arizona College offers more than 90 academic degrees and certificates, along with career training, personal enrichment, online and university transfer courses. Continuing education classes, workshops and community events further extend the college’s mission to provide accessible educational, cultural and personal growth opportunities for individuals of all ages.