SAFE Credit Union Performing Art Center: A Transformative Renovation by DLR Group

The SAFE Credit Union Performing Art Center, originally opened in 1976, has long been a cornerstone of Sacramento’s cultural landscape. Designed to host professional performances, the aging brutalist structure had become visually isolated from the surrounding urban environment and was in urgent need of a comprehensive renovation. In 2022, DLR Group undertook an ambitious transformation to modernize the facility, re-establish its connection with the city, and elevate the performance experience for artists and audiences alike.

Revitalizing an Iconic Brutalist Structure

The original building, with its heavy concrete façade and limited engagement with the street, presented challenges both functionally and aesthetically. The renovation aimed to open the structure to Sacramento’s vibrant urban fabric while integrating the region’s celebrated tree-filled landscapes into the design. New lobbies and public spaces now directly interact with the sidewalk, allowing passersby to witness the energy and artistry within. By night, these luminous spaces act as beacons, anchoring the surrounding pedestrian streets and reinforcing the performing arts center as a community landmark.

A Material Palette for Transparency and Connection

A key strategy in the renovation was the use of a transparent material palette to replace the formerly opaque concrete exterior. The design introduces a lacy scrim that filters light in a manner reminiscent of a tree canopy, visually linking the interior with the arboretum landscape across the street. This scrim frames the formal south lobby and extends northward to create an outdoor room, perfect for community events, outdoor movie nights, and social gatherings, a true “community living room” concept.

Cutting-Edge Performance Spaces

Inside, the renovation focused on improving both the aesthetic and functional qualities of the performance areas. The audience chamber and orchestra pit received a full-scale upgrade, including California’s largest electro-acoustic enhancement system. This cutting-edge technology transforms previously acoustically inadequate and visually confusing interiors into a warm, inviting environment with superior auditory quality. The redesigned auditorium ensures universal access, providing equitable sightlines and auditory experiences for all visitors.

Sustainability, Light, and Community Engagement

The project employs a holistic approach to design, reusing the concept of dappled light throughout the structure, from interior finishes and shading systems to structural elements and lighting design. These strategies reduce solar heat gain, minimize glare, and optimize natural daylighting, creating a sustainable and comfortable environment. Additionally, the center now offers smaller performance venues that highlight local artists, reflecting the diverse cultural fabric of Sacramento and fostering a more inclusive arts community.

Collaborators and Craftsmanship

The project brought together a range of industry leaders to ensure excellence in design and execution. Key collaborators included:

• Landscape Architecture: The HLA Group
• Civil Engineering: NV5
• Manufacturers: Dri-Design, Vitro®, Amico Architectural Metals, Bagatelos Architectural Glass Systems, Meyer Sound, Milliken, Series Seating, TopAkustik, Yellow Goat Design, Zahner

The careful integration of these specialists ensured that every detail, from material selection to acoustics and lighting, supports the building’s role as a dynamic, community-centered performing arts hub.

A New Cultural Landmark for Sacramento

Today, the SAFE Credit Union Performing Art Center stands as a transformed cultural icon, bridging the city and its citizens through architecture, landscape, and performance. By combining transparency, acoustic innovation, and community-focused design, DLR Group has reimagined a 1970s brutalist building into a modern beacon for the arts: inviting, inclusive, and deeply connected to its urban context.

All photographs are works of  Michael Grimm