Diego Rivera’s Pan American Unity mural holds immense cultural significance as a vivid representation of the artist’s vision for unity across the Americas. Featuring a vibrant tapestry of figures that weave together historical, cultural, and industrial scenes from various regions, the artwork emphasizes the interconnectedness and solidarity between these diverse nations in the Americas.
Diego Rivera Performing Arts Center
City College of San Francisco
Location
San Francisco, California
Owner
City College of San Francisco
Executive Architect: TEF Design
Acoustics: Jaffee Holden
Theatrical / AV Consultant: The Shalleck Collaborative, Inc.
Structural Engineering: SOHA Engineers
Mechanical & Electrical Engineering: Interface Engineering
Plumbing Engineering: MHC Engineering
Civil Engineering: BKF Engineers
Landscape Architecture: Creo Landscape Architecture
Lighting Design: HLB Lighting
Cost Estimating: Directional Logic
Project Size
77,000 square feet
Seating Capacity
600 seat Auditorium, 150 seat Studio Theatre
Project Status
In Progress
Certifications
Targeting LEED New Construction Gold
Services
Architecture, Interior Design
The Diego Rivera Performing Arts Center is poised to become the cultural centerpiece of the City College of San Francisco, anchoring a new academic precinct along Frida Kahlo Avenue. Serving as the permanent home for Diego Rivera’s renowned Pan American Unity mural, the theater will also house the college’s music and drama departments, creating a vibrant hub for both education and the arts.
The design features three distinct concrete volumes, each dedicated to a unique performance venue: a 600-seat multi-purpose performance hall, a 150-seat studio theater, and a 100-seat recital hall. These venues are unified by an architectural frame that embraces the mural lobby, providing a dramatic setting for the mural and a welcoming entry for visitors. The facility also includes ample instructional spaces, practice rooms, and administrative offices to support academic programming. As a landmark for the campus and the city, the Diego Rivera Performing Arts Center will foster artistic excellence, community engagement, and cultural enrichment for students and visitors alike.
Photography: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
Diego Rivera, The Marriage of the Artistic Expression of the North and of the South on This Continent, also known as Pan American Unity, 1940; courtesy City College of San Francisco; © Banco de México Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo Museums Trust, Mexico City / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
“The building’s open, glass-wrapped lobby and the arrangement of performance venues around the Pan American Unity mural create a truly unique experience for both the campus and the city.”
– John Chau, Partner, LMN Architects
