Paul Mellon Arts Center

The Paul Mellon Arts Center is an art museum and school building in Wallingford that connects two distinct sections through underground passages. One section houses a 760-seat theater for performances while the other contains art studios, practice rooms, and recording facilities for students and artists.

Completed in 1972 with funding from alumnus Paul Mellon, the building physically connected two formerly separate schools that had operated independently before. This joining of institutions created a shared cultural space that transformed how the schools approached arts education and campus life.

Exhibition spaces throughout the building display visual art and attract visitors interested in seeing student and professional work side by side. The performance venues host concerts and theatrical productions that shape the artistic life of the campus community.

Multiple levels and underground passages connect the different areas, so plan to explore on foot and allow time to find your way around the building. The structure is designed for easy navigation, though first-time visitors may want to orient themselves before moving between the theater and art studio sections.

The building was designed by renowned architect I.M. Pei, who applied modernist principles to create a structure that feels both bold and functional. The underground passage system connecting the two main sections was an uncommon feature for school buildings when it was completed.