梅萨艺术和娱乐中心的设计理念，题为“阴影之旅”，沿着一条阴凉长廊组织了一幢独立建筑，由一排树木和熔岩石长凳，一个寓教于乐的“阿罗约”水道组成，并由高檐篷 剧场大堂。 该设计创造了阴影和阳光的模式，使全年愉快的户外公共空间。

影子步道和相关的开放空间涵盖约12万平方英尺的高品质行人表面，综合视觉艺术，设计工作室庭院和各种特殊场地特色和花园。 这些广场和花园为中心的18万平方英尺的剧院，排练工作室，画廊和教室创造了城市环境，每天可欢迎2,000名访客。

The Mesa Arts and Entertainment Center’s design concept, entitled “Shadow Walk,” organizes an ensemble of individual buildings along a shady promenade, defined by rows of trees and lava stone benches, an allegorical “arroyo” waterway, and punctuated by high canopies extending from theater lobbies. The design creates patterns of shade and sun that results in a pleasant outdoor public space year-round.

The Shadow Walk and associated open spaces cover approximately 120,000 square feet of high-quality pedestrian surfaces, integrated visual art, design studio courtyards and a variety of special site features and gardens. These plazas and gardens create the urban environment for the Center’s 180,000 square feet of performance theaters, rehearsal studios, galleries and classrooms that welcome 2,000 visitors daily.