Wellmont Arts Plaza: Plaza Design

Located in downtown Montclair, the Wellmont Theatre has become the heart of a growing Arts District. This redevelopment includes the preservation of the historic theatre, 220 residential units, 50,000 SF of retail, 30,000 SF of office space, and a new parking garage. At the center of the project is a new 15,000 SF “Arts Plaza.” Due to heavy pedestrian activity generated by the theatre, including lines and post-event spillover, the existing one-way street in front of the venue created safety concerns and limited opportunities for gathering. As part of a public-private collaboration, the City and the development team sought to transform this condition into a more pedestrian-focused civic space while supporting the surrounding mixed-use redevelopment.

Arterial was commissioned to design the public “Arts Plaza,” the surrounding streetscape, and the private rooftop amenity spaces. The plaza has been reimagined as a pedestrian street that accommodates a variety of programmable uses, shopping, and outdoor dining. Designed as a vibrant and flexible public space, the Arts Plaza supports daily activity while also accommodating performances and events at a range of scales. Key elements include sculptural entry walls, overhead catenary lighting, and a signature “performance stair.” This feature provides stepped seating for everyday use, transforms into an outdoor classroom for small performances, and functions as a full stage for larger events—establishing the plaza as a safe, active, and culturally driven centerpiece for Montclair’s Arts District.