Little
Santa Monica College
Arts Complex
Santa Monica , California
Project Type
Higher Education
Size
34,970 Square Feet
Design Services
Architecture
The Santa Monica College Arts Complex transforms a former surface parking lot into a dynamic new western gateway for the campus.
With Grimshaw serving as the Design Architect and Little as the Architect of Record, the complex features an industrial, yet refined aesthetic designed to serve as a "factory of creativity" that welcomes students, faculty, and the broader community into a space of discovery, collaboration, and artistic innovation.
Replacing the college's original 1952 art facility, the new complex brings previously scattered arts programs into a cohesive, purpose-built environment, fostering connection, interdisciplinary exploration, and a sustainable future. The project spans 34,970 GSF, setting a bold new standard for progressive arts education.
Design Awards
- SARA California Design Award, Merit Award
PROJECT GOALS
Santa Monica College set out to create a vibrant, unified home for their arts program, fostering collaboration, discovery, and community.
Through extensive engagement with faculty, students, and local residents, the design was shaped around the values of inclusivity, flexibility, and sustainability.
The new Arts Complex consolidates previously scattered disciplines into a flexible environment that blurs the boundaries between indoor and outdoor learning. Sensitively sited between a lively commercial corridor and a quiet residential neighborhood, the project balances creative energy with urban responsibility, serving as an inclusive cultural gateway that connects the college to the broader Santa Monica community.
CONNECTING CAMPUS, COMMUNITY, AND CREATIVITY
Blending public life and artistic discovery
The Santa Monica College Arts Complex creates a vibrant gateway between campus and community, anchored by a dynamic public plaza for exhibitions, gatherings, and everyday interaction. Open, curb-less spaces dissolve the boundary between college and city, making creativity a visible and accessible part of daily life. Thoughtful landscaping provides a seamless transition to the surrounding neighborhood, balancing lively arts activities with residential calm. A perforated metal screen wraps the building, filtering sunlight and reinforcing the complex’s identity as a dynamic, ever-changing hub for the arts.
A PROGRESSIVE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT
Flexible spaces that inspire collaboration
Inside the complex, flexible studios, teaching spaces, and workshops are organized to break down traditional barriers, encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration and creativity. Heavy and light workshops are intentionally positioned for visibility, sparking cross-disciplinary awareness and informal learning across mediums. Transparent workshop walls showcase the artistic process, further inviting curiosity and connection. Learning seamlessly extends into shaded outdoor courtyards, creating spaces for exploration, collaboration, and dynamic discovery beyond the building’s walls.
SUSTAINABILITY-FIRST APPROACH
Designing for the future, naturally
Sustainability is embedded in every aspect of the Arts Complex, from passive solar orientation and outdoor learning microclimates to energy-saving building systems. Mixed-mode ventilation, rooftop solar panels, and readiness for reclaimed water further reduce environmental impact. Every material and system decision aligns with Santa Monica College’s Climate Change and Sustainability Policy Goals and supports the project’s pursuit of LEED Silver certification.
“The adaptable design for the new SMC Arts Complex will bolster our mission to bring students together to gain a greater exposure to the potential of the art program.”
-Walter Meyer
SMC Art Department Chair
RESULTS
The Santa Monica College Arts Complex transforms arts education by uniting dispersed programs into a flexible, sustainable hub of creativity.
It energizes campus life, strengthens community connections, and sets a bold new standard for progressive, future-ready design.
