DFDG Architecture

The Chandler Center for the Arts is unlike any other performance venue in Arizona. Known for its rotating theater pods and distinctive interior, the theater has served as a destination for performances, events, and student productions for decades.

After helping renovate the theater lobby several years ago, our team is once again partnering with the City Government of Chandler, Arizona to support the next phase of improvements for the theater itself.

A key focus of the design has been preserving the theater's original wood veneer, an important part of both the building's character and an integral finish on the uniquely engineered rotating theater pods. Implemented upgrades include new seating with integrated lighting, flooring, and interior finishes that complement the existing space while enhancing comfort and accessibility.

Even details like the carpet pattern were carefully considered, balancing visual interest with durability and creating an experience that works for patrons of all ages.

The improvements are designed to enhance the patron experience while respecting the character that has made the venue unique for decades.

Some of the best ideas start with a sketch.

Sketching gives our teams a way to communicate ideas quickly, work through challenges in real time, and explore possibilities before they become fully developed solutions. It creates an open exchange of thinking across the team and often becomes a valuable teaching tool along the way, helping communicate not just what works, but why.

These sketches were developed as part of the ongoing work for the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Terminal 3 North 2 Concourse project. As the project continues, this hands-on process remains an important part of how we collaborate, test ideas, and shape the project together from the ground up.

Culture is reflected in the way people are supported.

For Sean Ragudo, it was the level of investment DFDG puts into its people, not just in leadership, but across every level of the firm.

“I was surprised to see how much DFDG invests in their employees. Most of my previous places of employment focused on upper-tier positions, but I have found that it really is an all-levels engagement for skillbuilding and confidence.

I also felt immediately welcome and respected for my knowledge base and as a resource to others, which really validated my experience as an architect.

Most firms I have worked with talked about standards and QC, but at DFDG I have actually seen it in practice and had the opportunity to be part of it. It’s refreshing to work somewhere where craft and quality genuinely matter.”

At DFDG, investing in people and taking pride in the craft go hand in hand, and that foundation continues to shape the way we work together.

Every meaningful space starts long before construction ever begins. For the expansion and renovation of Cornerstone’s worship facility, our team had the opportunity to help shape that journey by adding 600 new auditorium seats while thoughtfully enhancing the overall worship environment.

What begins as lines on paper, wall sections, technical details, and coordinated plans eventually becomes a real space filled with purpose, connection, and daily experience. Each detail, no matter how small, plays a role in bringing the vision to life.

One of the most rewarding parts of the process is watching those ideas move from design documents into built reality. It is where careful planning, collaboration, and craftsmanship all come together to create spaces that truly serve people.

In many cases, the smallest details designed early on become the elements that leave the biggest impression once the space is complete.