Designed as a cultural anchor for the La Jolla Music Society, The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center strengthens the organization’s mission to elevate music, dance, film, and opera while expanding opportunities for education and community engagement.
At the heart of the center is a 500-seat concert hall, engineered with adaptable acoustics, flexible stage configurations, and integrated media projection to accommodate a diverse range of performances. Adjacent to the main hall, a 150-seat multi-purpose space serves as a venue for intimate performances, educational programs, and social gatherings.
A sheltered outdoor garden plaza, framed by a sculptural terra cotta screen, acts as a communal forecourt and informal gathering space blurring the line between performance and public life.
The design is the result of an extensive community planning process and is conceived as a collection of modestly scaled volumes and open courtyards. The architecture responds to the context through its material palette and scale, while asserting a contemporary civic presence in the heart of La Jolla.
JWDA Architects served as Architect of Record in association with Epstein Joslin Architects