Located in downtown Montclair, the Wellmont Theatre has become the heart of a new 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 this redevelopment is a new 15,000 SF “Arts Plaza.”

The plaza has become a pedestrian street that accommodates a variety of programmable uses, shopping and outdoor dining. Arterial was commissioned to design the public “Arts Plaza,” the surrounding streetscape and the private rooftop amenity spaces. The “Arts Plaza” is designed as a vibrant, programmable space that is enjoyable for day-to-day use but can also accommodate performances and events at a variety of scales. Key elements of the design include sculptural entry walls, overhead catenary lighting and a unique “performance stair.” The “performance stair” is designed to provide stepped seating for day-to-day use, can be transformed into an outdoor classroom for small performances and can become a full stage for larger performances.