Firehouse Arts Center To Light up Pleasanton’s Downtown

Pleasanton's historic Fire House No.1 has been transformed into a new cultural arts center. Pale wood panels, colored glass towers and gleaming steel signage sets old against new, celebrating Pleasanton's historic past while embracing its future.

"This is not a cookie-cutter arts center. The new building was designed for that specific site," said Debbie Look, Campaign Director for Pleasanton Cultural Arts Foundation.

The railroad side, looking out to Main Street, is designed to reflect the sense of community and the city's historic past.

Look said, "The backside of the building, with its striking shafts of blue glass and curved lines of pale wood, is meant to be evocative of the environmental nature of the park."

The Firehouse Arts Center opens its doors with a ticketed Gala event at 6:00 pm on Friday, September 17th.

Susan Andrade-Wax, Director of Parks and Community Services, said the event serves, "as a a thank you to all the people who have donated as well as a final push for funds."

Tickets went on sale at $125, and are now sold out. A free public grand opening will take place Saturday, September 18th from 10 am to 3 pm.

That day will include a ribbon cutting at 11 am, a buffet and activities for children outside the building.  Meanwhile, performances will be taking place inside to showcase typical acts that will be seen at the arts center. This includes vocals, dance, and improv as well as class demonstrations and community band events.

The public grand opening will show what the arts center has to offer in "one glance," said Andrade-Wax.

The Arts Center has 17,000 square feet of space and will provide two classrooms, a 2,000 square feet gallery, a 240-seat studio-theater and office space.  A 1,350 square feet grand lobby leads out to open areas of courtyard and garden. These features were requested by Pleasanton citizens in a survey in 2001.

When the Firehouse No.1 became available in 2005 Andy Jorgensen, Civic Arts Manager, said the city saw the opportunity to support the arts while bringing economic vitality to downtown through a cultural experience.

Jorgensen said it was an opportunity to "provide highly sophisticated arts experiences that will excite passion for the arts."

Programs that will be available at the arts center can be found through the Fall/Winter Pleasanton Parks and Community Services Activity Guide.

Rob Vogt, Theater Supervisor, said the programs offers "something for everyone," from preschoolers to kids and teens.

Vogt said, "We are really able to expand what the city has to offer."

The city will also put together several productions including The Princess and the Pea, (at the Amador Theater) in English pantomime style, James and the Giant Peach, and a homage to Pleasanton's movie heritage going back to the Mary Pickford movie, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. 

Fine arts classes will be offered from spring along with the new arts program Young @ Art. Visitors to the arts center will be able to view the exhibits or attend classes.  Schools will also be able to visit and enrich their students' arts education.

A parking lot, with 87 regular and 4 handicapped spaces, has been built next to the Firehouse Arts Center to cope with the extra visitors.

Judy Wheeler, owner of Towne Center Books and Chair of Marketing on the Pleasanton Downtown Association board said parking should not be an issue as long as the lots and downtown spaces are open to all patrons.

"There's extra parking when there is no event, and plenty of parking during events, without impacting the existing downtown parking," said Wheeler.

Led by the Cultural Arts Foundation, the project involved 100 volunteers and about 1,000 people who donated. Look said there are still opportunities to donate including buying an inscribed brick for $150, or a theatre seat for $500.

Look said, "I feel so proud and pleased with this project and so excited."

For more information:

Firehouse Arts Center

Pleasanton Cultural Arts Foundation

Pleasanton Parks and Community Services

Firehouse Arts Center FAQ