The long-awaited transformation of a former Navy building into the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Performing Arts Center is nearly complete. The venue is set to open in fall 2025 at 2898 Roosevelt Road, right in the heart of San Diego’s Liberty Station.
This redevelopment will become the new home of Cygnet Theatre. It’s not just another new build—it’s a cultural revival inside a historic shell. Built in 1941, the structure originally served as barracks and classrooms during World War II. For decades, it trained Navy recruits. Soon, it will entertain theatergoers.
Inside the Future Performing Arts Center
By January 2025, construction was in full swing. Scaffolding wrapped the building, and Suffolk Construction signage lined the perimeter. Renderings on site preview what’s ahead.
The venue will include:
- A 280+ seat main theater (The Joseph W. Clayes III Theater)
- A 150-seat black box space (The Dottie Studio Theater)
- A new entrance and lobby (The Conrad Prebys Lobby)
- Rehearsal rooms, event space, and dressing areas
All of it will be ADA-compliant and built with sustainability in mind. The redesign merges historic preservation with modern function. A full breakdown appears in this brochure.
A Cultural Anchor with Military Roots
The center is one of Liberty Station’s final large-scale projects. It adds to a growing arts district already known for museums, galleries, and food. However, this will be its first full-scale performing arts hub…