New Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts Plaza welcomes visitors

The City of Raleigh has officially opened the center’s new Lichtin Plaza, welcoming residents and visitors to what it calls a new “front porch” in the city’s downtown.

The redesigned plaza provides a more welcoming and accessible entrance to the popular live-performance venue. Improvements include a dedicated drop-off lane, new wheelchair-accessible ramps and expanded green space.

According to city officials, the opening marks a pivotal step in the redevelopment of the area, which will also include planned expansions such as the Raleigh Convention Center expansion, relocation of a popular music venue and development of a new luxury hotel.

“We’re excited to finally see this space come to life in a new way,” said Kerry Painter, executive director of the Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex. “Lichtin Plaza was designed to be a place where people gather, connect and experience the arts, and with these enhancements and the new Omni Raleigh Hotel across the way, we’re creating even more opportunities for our community and visitors to be part of that experience.”

The renovation also includes the return of a key central feature, a large 6.5-ton boulder sourced from Martin Marietta’s Garner Quarry.

The rock was originally placed during the facility’s renaming in 2022 but was temporarily removed to prevent damage during the renovation.

Now that construction is complete, the rock has been returned to its rightful place in front of the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts, where it again welcomes patrons excited to enjoy a live show.

Martin Marietta Exploration Services Manager Bill Gragg and his team helped place the branded boulder when it was returned to the plaza in the spring and said the experience was incredibly positive.

“It’s rewarding to know that our team played a role in a project that will serve as a lasting landmark for the community,” he said. “The Martin Marietta rock may be just one component of the facility, but it contributes to a space that will bring people together through art, culture and shared experiences for generations to come.”

In 2022, Martin Marietta worked with the City of Raleigh to secure naming rights to the Center for the Performing Arts, a venue that has served the community for nearly a century. The 20-year deal began in early 2023.

“Martin Marietta has been an exceptional partner. We value their commitment to supporting the arts and their dedication to making a lasting impact,” said the center’s general manager, Michelle Bradley. “We are proud to partner with them as we continue bringing world-class performances and meaningful cultural experiences to our community.”

The Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts hosts more than 600 events annually, drawing more than 400,000 visitors and generating more than $35 million in economic activity for local businesses.

Built in 1932, the venue was designed to complement the North Carolina State Capitol. Today, it is home to several event spaces capable of seating between 150 and 2,369 people and serves as the home venue for several resident performance companies, including the Carolina Ballet, North Carolina Symphony and PineCone, a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to preserving North Carolina Piedmont music.

“We take pride in knowing our work helped create something that will have a positive and lasting impact on the city,” Gragg said.