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# Dustin Hoffman joins Julius Schulman to document SMC's PACMA construction
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/071906-story/
- Published: 2006-07-19T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T19:01:25.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Community, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*By NORA SORENA CASEY Special to the Daily Press*

11th Street — A crowd of eager Santa Monica College officials and supporters, including film star Dustin Hoffman, looked on Tuesday morning as architectural photographer Julius Schulman documented the construction of the new Performing Arts & Music Academy of Santa Monica College (PACMA).

Hoffman, a SMC alumn and PACMA supporter, proposed that 95 year-old Schulman photograph the construction of the new facility, since he is known for his architectural photography of buildings.

The event was organized to document the project in its making, as the theater is now approximately halfway built, as well as to keep the community aware about the new facility.

“With a project this big and exciting for us, we want to remind the public that it’s on and it’s going well,” said SMC spokesman Bruce Smith.

The new complex is being built at the Madison Campus, on Santa Monica Boulevard and 11th Street. It will include a 541-seat theater, a rehearsal hall, an art gallery, and classrooms and practice rooms for the Academy of Music.

The complex was designed by Renzo Zecchetto, a Santa Monica architect. PACMA is estimated to cost $38.9 million, funded in part by public money from Measure U and Measure S, as well as private donations.

The construction of the complex began in January of 2005\. Former SMC President Piedad F. Robertson had felt that the SMC concert hall was old and insufficient — it didn’t even have bathrooms. The Madison Campus was leased in 1990 for 66 years, and also included an aging concert hall.

SMC officials hope that PACMA will serve both the local and school community. The performing spaces are to be used by students, as well as to host other shows and performers. SMC officials envision the theater to become a mecca for the arts on the Westside of Los Angeles.

SMC will present theater, dance, concert and opera performances upon the facilty’s opening in fall of 2007.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 19, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/071906.pdf?ref=smdp.com)