Get ready for the next act at Liberty Station! The Joan is a 40,000 SF, two-story performing arts center bringing new energy to historic Building 178. Designed to honor the past while embracing the future, it features a stunning 300-seat proscenium theater with gallery seating, an orchestra pit, and cutting-edge AV, lighting, and rigging. A versatile 125-seat studio theater, spacious lobby lounges, and a 900 SF rehearsal/flex space set the stage for creativity at every level. Thoughtful acoustic design, modern HVAC, and upgraded security, IT, and AV systems ensure a seamless experience for performers and audiences alike. Plus, an inviting outdoor patio offers the perfect spot for intermissions and open-air events. The Joan is more than a venue—it’s a vibrant new home for the arts in San Diego!

HSW Justification:
This tour will include insights into how the designers met the Secretary of the Interior’s standards for historic preservation/rehabilitation projects, as well as state and local accessibility requirements, thereby supporting the social well-being of the community. The tour will also highlight efforts made to meet energy, fire, and life safety codes, the latter being especially important in an assembly use such as a theater.

1: Aesthetic approach to designing a modern theater within an existing historic building
2: Meeting energy and fire and life safety codes within an existing building shell
3: What means were used for providing accessibility
4: How the project team met unanticipated conditions encountered during construction.