Maui Arts & Cultural Center (MACC)

Kahului, HI | 6,450 seats | 150,000 sq ft

MACC was conceived to fill the needs of Maui’s artistic and cultural organizations. This complex consists of four main structures organized around an open amphitheater used for outdoor performances. These structures include a 1,200-seat state-of-the-art main theatre capable of hosting theatrical or musical performances; a 4,000-square-foot exhibition gallery which will permit museum quality shows; an attached classroom building and administration building; and the Maui Academy of Performing Arts building which is a small performing arts theater and space for supporting functions.

This cluster of buildings utilized simple clay tile hip and gable roofs with the high-roof and low-roof built with a high slope and low slope to take the classic “Dickey Roof” to another level of architectural expression. Because of the large differences in span, acoustical and functional requirements; our challenge structurally was to blend the economical use of steel trusses and wood trusses, with concrete over steel, plywood over wood, and metal deck over steel purlins together and still achieve a consistent eave detail throughout the entire complex. We achieved this conceptually by using an all wood frame low roof, and wood framed roofs supported by steel trusses for all of the high roofs except the main theatre which required a concrete ceiling supported by steel trusses and an all steel high roof.

Additionally, masonry was used for all the vertical element structures except the theatre which utilized concrete. Because the site is on the northern shore of Maui and the main theatre is at the northern edge of the complex, the side wall of the theatre is exposed to salt-laden trade winds blowing off the ocean. Concrete with a low water-cement ratio and special admixture was specified to help counteract the effects of this corrosive environment. This special care taken will help this complex enjoy a longer useful life.