Chandler Center for the Arts

Chandler Center for the Arts (CCA) is a premier cultural institution located in the heart of Downtown Chandler, Arizona. Established as a testament to the city's passionate commitment to the arts, the center emerged from the vision and determination of community leaders and city officials in the late 1980s. The idea for the center was conceived when then-Mayor Jerry Brooks was working on attracting high-tech companies to Chandler as part of an economic development plan. To make the city appealing, Mayor Brooks recognized the importance of showcasing a high quality of life, which included arts and entertainment options. Concurrently, the Chandler Unified School District was in need of an auditorium for its high school, which led to a collaboration between the city and the school district. The design of the Chandler Center for the Arts was entrusted to Dr. Wendell Rossman of SPS Architects, who created an acoustical and technical marvel. The center features a unique turntable divisible auditorium, allowing the main auditorium to rotate two rear sections by 180 degrees to form two smaller, intimate performance spaces—the 346-seat Hal Bogle Theatre and the 250-seat Recital Hall. When combined, these sections create a large theater with a seating capacity of 1,508. Additionally, the center houses a 2,000 square foot gallery space, The Gallery at CCA, which hosts multiple exhibits annually, and is adorned with significant public art pieces like Merrill Mahaffey's "Morning At Saddle Canyon." The Chandler Cultural Foundation, established in 1989, serves as the programming and fundraising entity for the center. The CCA has become a shared-use facility, offering a diverse array of performances and cultural events, as well as serving as an educational space for the Chandler Unified School District during the week. The center's impact on the community is significant, with an annual attendance of over 210,000 people. It presents a full calendar of performances by nationally and internationally recognized artists and entertainers, conducts outreach programs for youth, and showcases visual arts through rotating exhibitions in its gallery spaces. Key historical milestones for the Chandler Center for the Arts include its groundbreaking in 1988, the grand opening on August 25, 1989, with comedian Steve Allen, and a series of renovations in 2009-10 that enhanced the plaza, added glass installations, and improved infrastructure and signage. The center has also been recognized for its community contributions, receiving the Governor’s Arts Award in 2006. The architect behind the CCA, Wendell Ernst Rossman (November 21, 1923 – June 22, 2017), was a pioneer in concrete forms and is known for his innovative designs, including the Skydome at Northern Arizona University. His firm, SPS Architects, continues to uphold his design legacy. Today, the Chandler Center for the Arts remains a beacon of cultural excellence and innovation, dedicated to connecting communities and inspiring engagement with inclusive and enriching arts experiences.