Completed: Fall 2005
Cost: $0.5 million

VSA Arts of New Mexico is a not-for-profit agency providing visual and performing arts activities and education for people with disabilities. The North Fourth Arts Center is located in a 17,000 square foot former discount department store and office building. The focus of the project is a new 5,000 square foot black box theatre within the existing building envelope.

The theatre seats from 90 to 150 people, depending upon seating configuration, and features a raised platform and ramp to provide multiple viewing positions for people in wheelchairs. Seating is on modular, demountable stepped platforms. Areas surrounding the theatre are reconfigured to provide a more rational layout of visual arts studios, some of which can also be used as green room space for the theatre.