The Tempe Center for the Arts is a striking modern arts venue on the south shore of Tempe Town Lake, opened in 2007. The building's swooping roofline is meant to echo the sails on the water. Inside there's a 600-seat theatre, a more intimate studio space, and a gallery showing rotating exhibitions by Arizona artists.
The lakeside lawns make this one of the nicer places to catch a sunset in Tempe — bring a takeaway dinner if you're not seeing a show. Pedestrian paths connect directly to the Tempe Town Lake loop and Tempe Beach Park.