Scottsdale Civic Center

The Scottsdale Civic Center is a powerful example of the transformative potential of design to create public spaces that allow for a more vibrant and sustainable future. This ambitious project reimagined a nine-acre civic space in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale into a modern, multifunctional urban oasis that meets a variety of community needs and serves as a nucleus for social, cultural, and recreational activities. The design adopted a “preservation first” approach, assessing each space based on what could be kept, what areas could be enhanced, and which spaces would be transformed.

In collaboration with Dig Studio.

In dense urban areas such as this, environments like Scottsdale Civic Center Park are often the only green spaces available, crucial for mitigating urban heat islands and supporting public health. The goal for the project became not only creating a comfortable refuge in the desert for residents, but also making sure the landscape would be set up to thrive in an increasingly warming world. The project reduces water usage by 5.8 million gallons annually by eliminating outdated water features, implementing low-water-use landscapes, and creating more inviting microclimates that support a variety of activities.

With overall capacity for 7,479 attendees, multiple pavilions– including a new, multifunctional 360-degree events structure and permanent stage–work in concert to create a seamless performance and events experience while offering a variety of community uses when not activated for concerts, shows, and performances.

Iconic features like the Marshall Gardens were enhanced, while new, transformative spaces such as the Children’s Garden, a 360-degree performance structure, and a permanent stage were introduced to cater to the needs of a diverse and dynamic community while elevating the Civic Center as a hub for the performing arts.