The Sugar Land Development Corporation has approved Washington D.C.–based Martinez & Johnson Architects as the designers for the new Sugar Land Performing Arts Center to be situated at the corner of Hwy. 59 and University Boulevard. The new facility will be built through a partnership between the city of Sugar Land and ACE SL of ACE Theatrical Group and is expected to provide a destination for large-scale entertainment purposes.

"[The Sugar Land Performing Arts Center] will serve as an iconic element for the entire city,' said Gary Martinez, principal with Martinez & Johnson Architects. "We looked for something that was different than what is typically seen here."

Construction of the performing arts center is expected to begin summer 2014 and will continue for approximately two years. The 38.5-acre site is located within the Telfair commercial district at the southeast corner of Hwy. 59 and University Boulevard adjacent to Texas Instruments' new headquarters that is currently under construction.

The center is expected to cost about $83.6 million and will be funded through a portion of the city's sales tax revenues dedicated for economic development purposes and a portion of the hotel occupancy tax funds reserved for tourism initiatives. ACE Theatrical Groupa Houston-based theatrical management and development firmis providing a $10-million equity contribution for the project through the public-private partnership with the city, which was formed in 2011.

"The conception and vision for this venue was [made] with the city," ACE Theatrical Group president David Anderson said. "We have directed that vision together. We have designed this facility, and together we are financing this facility. It is going to be operated so that it is an asset for the city and for the entire region. It is going to [feature] diverse programming to fit the needs of the taxpayers and the needs of the region to bring in tourists and artists from all over the world."

Designs of the Sugar Land Performing Arts Center boast a large lobby area and outdoor plaza separated by a large curved glass wall stretching across the front of the building that is meant to personify the openness of the relationship between the city of Sugar Land and ACE Theatrical Group as well as of the venue itself, Martinez said.

"In many respects, the design of the building speaks to the long tradition of planning and the process that the city uses to create these iconic structures," Martinez said. "It speaks to the openness of the program that ACE is going to bring to the venue in creating shows for the entire community. There will be something for everyone to be had here."

The center will provide up to 6,500 seats to attract sought-after performers and events. The design also allows the theater area to transform for smaller, more intimate shows by reducing the space to 2,500–4,000 seats, Anderson said.

"We will be able to attract artists that can't play at other performing arts centers because the economics aren't there," Anderson said. "There is a void in this market now. [Artists] don't have a place to come here. Here we have an opportunity."