MEDIA ADVISORY
City College of San Francisco Breaks Ground on the Diego Rivera Performing Arts Center (DRPAC)
New Performing Arts Center Will Provide a Permanent Home for Diego Rivera’s Famous Pan American Unity Mural
San Francisco, CA — On Thursday, January 22, 2026, from 2:00 to 3:30 PM, the San Francisco Community College District (SFCCD) / City College of San Francisco (CCSF) will celebrate its groundbreaking of the Diego Rivera Performing Arts Center (DRPAC), a transformative new cultural and educational facility on CCSF’s Ocean Campus. San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie will be speaking at the ceremony. Funded through the voter-approved Proposition A Bond Program, the project represents a major investment in the arts, student learning, and San Francisco’s cultural heritage.
Situated on the western edge of the Ocean Campus, between the Harry Britt Building (HBB) and the STEAM Building, the DRPAC will serve as a premier venue for performance, instruction, and community engagement. The facility is designed to support CCSF’s robust performing arts programs while welcoming the broader public to experience theater, music, and visual art in a state-of-the-art setting.
At the heart of the building will be Diego Rivera’s renowned Pan American Unity mural, one of the artist’s most significant works and a cornerstone of CCSF’s artistic legacy.
“The Diego Rivera Performing Arts Center represents CCSF’s strong commitment to advancing cultural awareness and access to art’s many expressions. I celebrate this meaningful step to making the DRPAC a reality that will truly benefit not only our college but the entire community for generations to come,” said Dr. Kimberlee S. Messina, Chancellor, CCSF.
“We are grateful to San Franciscans for their continued support of City College and the arts. The Diego Rivera Performing Arts Center reflects a shared commitment to student learning, cultural access, and community life, creating a premier performing arts venue and a permanent, publicly accessible home for Diego Rivera’s Pan American Unity mural,” said Aliya Chisti, Board President, City College of San Francisco.
What: Groundbreaking of the Diego Rivera Performing Arts Center. Speakers will include San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie.
When: January 22, 2026, 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM.
Where: CCSF’s Ocean Campus, STEAM 101, 50 Frida Kahlo Way, San Francisco, CA 94112.
A Historic Artwork Returns Home
Originally created as part of the Art in Action Exhibition at the Golden Gate International Exposition (GGIE) on Treasure Island, Pan American Unity is a true fresco begun by Diego Rivera in 1940. Although initially intended for the Pflueger Library, Rivera completed the mural in 1941, approximately three months after the exposition closed. After the de Young Museum declined to acquire the work, the mural was crated and moved to storage at City College in June 1942.
In 1961, the mural was installed in the CCSF campus theater—later known as the Diego Rivera Little Theater—designed by architect Milton Pflueger. For more than six decades, the mural was admired by students, faculty, and theatergoers alike. In 2021, the mural was carefully removed and transferred to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) for comprehensive conservation. Following its public display at SFMOMA through early 2024, the mural was placed in storage, awaiting its permanent return to CCSF.
The DRPAC will provide the mural with a purpose-built lobby space, ensuring its preservation and public accessibility for generations to come.
Building Highlights
- Total Area: Approximately 77,000 square feet
- Floors: Three levels plus basement
- Sustainability: Targeting LEED Gold certification
- Lobby: Permanent home of the Pan American Unity mural
Performance & Instructional Spaces:
- 600-seat Performance Hall
- 150-seat Studio Theater
- 100-seat Recital Hall
- Flexible instructional and rehearsal spaces
Investment in the Arts, Education, and Community
The DRPAC reflects CCSF’s dedication to arts education, cultural stewardship, and equitable access to premier facilities. Once completed, the performing arts center will serve CCSF students across multiple disciplines while acting as a cultural destination for San Francisco residents and visitors.
Construction is expected to continue through Fall 2028 with additional milestones to be announced. CCSF awarded construction firm Rudolph and Sletten, a subsidiary of Tutor Perini Corporation, the project in a competitive bidding process. TEF Design and LMN collaborated on the design.
Media Contact: Alexandra Céspedes Kent, 510-413-8445, alexandra@volersa.com