The new center will be a modern, flexible venue capable of accommodating a range of performances and events, supporting both campus programming and broader community use. | Photo Credit: Sundt Construction
- The San Diego Community College District’s Saville Performing Arts Center Replacement project at San Diego City College has moved into the schematic design phase.
- The project will replace the existing Saville Theatre with a new performing arts facility of about 28,000 square feet designed for academic programs and community use.
- Scope includes demolition, hazardous materials abatement, utility relocation and upgrades, plus site improvements including new walkways and ADA-compliant paths of travel.
- The work is part of the Measure HH Bond Program, approved in November 2024, totaling $3.5 billion.
SAN DIEGO — The Saville Theatre Replacement Project at San Diego City College, part of the district’s Measure HH Bond Program, has officially moved from the programming phase into schematic design. The project will replace the existing Saville Theatre with a new, approximately 28,000-square-foot performing arts facility designed to support academic programs and community use.
The new center will be a modern, flexible venue capable of accommodating a range of performances and events, supporting both campus programming and broader community use. The programming process brought together faculty and staff members, who joined the Design-Build team of RNT Architects and Sundt Construction for a series of workshops and discussions to help shape the project vision, offering insights on instructional needs, room configurations, and how to best support teaching, learning and live performance.
Work will include the abatement, demolition, and removal of the existing Saville Theatre and the removal and replacement of associated site utilities and appurtenances in alignment with the campus’s Master Plan. New construction of approximately 20,000 assignable square feet (ASF) includes a street-level lobby with Box Office, restrooms, and manager’s office. A mew main theatre will include 250–350 seats, including stage, orchestra pit and control room as well as a scene shop and costume shop. Other support spaces include rehearsal rooms, recording/editing spaces and dance studios.
Planned exterior work also includes new walkways, sustainable landscaping and irrigation, signage and ADA-compliant paths of travel that will connect to a future outdoor amphitheatre.
“We are honored to continue our partnership with the San Diego Community College District (SDCCD) on this important project,” said Ryan Nessen, Senior Vice President and California District Manager, according to a press release from Sundt Construction.
“This selection reflects the trust we have built over more than two decades and our commitment to delivering high-quality facilities that serve students and the broader community,” Nessen added.
Measure HH, approved in November 2024, is a $3.5 billion bond program that will provide state-of-the-art educational facilities, address long-deferred maintenance needs, and support accessibility and equity across the district’s colleges.
The project team also includes structural engineering firm KPFF, civil engineer Latitude 33, and mechanical and electrical engineer MA Engineers/Johnson Consulting Engineers.