What once stood as an empty field is now home to an architecturally significant building, with each feature designed to harness the power of the arts. The 28,335 square-foot space is the Community School of Music and Arts in Mountain View, CA.
CSMA Facilities Manager Tony Fontenot said the vision for the building design was very meticulous and intentional. The building was designed by renowned San Francisco architecture firm Mark Cavagnero Associates.
“The angles of the building and the large windows for natural light are strengths of the building design,” Fontenot said. “I think just the diversity of the space from the recital halls and Mohr Gallery to Tateuchi Hall are what make it so unique.”
He added that Mark Cavagnero hand picked every board that went on the building. Attention to detail was key during construction.
CSMA opened its first permanent home at Finn Center in 2004. Because of the proximity of the school to busy roadways, the building is organized around a central courtyard, which allows the mass of the building to buffer the surrounding traffic noises while lending light and organizational clarity to the school, according to the architect’s website.
Built to be a state-of-the-art education facility, CSMA was designed to provide the best possible spaces for the practice and performance of music. The facility was designed as a cast-in-place concrete building to provide the mass required for good acoustic isolation, both between rooms and to the exterior.
Fontenot shared that Tateuchi Hall, CSMA’s main concert hall, is equipped to provide outstanding acoustics during performances.
“Tateuchi Hall has acoustic baffling on the top and sides of the walls to provide better acoustic sound,” he said.
The Private lesson studios have soundproof doors and fiberglass insulated paneling to ensure that sound doesn’t bleed into the other studios for better concentration when learning.
CSMA expanded its programming over the years and additional space was needed to serve more students. The Roy and Ruth Rogers Wing was added in August 2021 after a 10-year capital campaign. Designed by Artik Art & Architecture, the 3,300 square-foot wing added more classroom, private lesson, ensemble, multi-purpose and storage space. It also created a new outdoor grassy area for public events and kids’ activities. The renovation project also included improvements inside Finn Center, including an expanded percussion studio and an improved recital space.
“People driving on San Antonio Road are curious about the modern, concrete building and are frequently surprised that such a large space is devoted to the arts,” said Erin Brownfield, CSMA’s Director of Marketing. ”Mountain View is fortunate to have such a unique center for community arts right in our city–especially one with a design that so well supports our mission of Arts for All. We encourage the public to come explore the building and enjoy the free concerts and art events that take place in this beautiful space.”
CSMA’s Arts Center Campus Features
- Finn Center is 25,000 square feet.
- The Roy and Ruth Rogers Wing is approximately 3,300 square feet.
- 21 private lesson studios
- 2 recital rooms
- Tateuchi Hall: 200+ seat concert hall
- Mohr Gallery: A community exhibit area
- Multiple classrooms
- A ceramics studio
- Two preschool rooms
- Two private grassy areas and a tree-filled courtyard
- A digital arts lab and teacher resource center
By TaLeiza Calloway-Appleton
Photo by James Dewrance
