Inside the Vision: MCBE Members Tour the Old Stuart High School Arts Campus
A Morning Tour That Turned Into Something Bigger
On a sunny Stuart morning, a group of Martin County Business Exchange (MCBE) members gathered outside the historic Old Stuart High School campus with coffee in hand and curiosity on our minds. Many of us had driven past the property for years without realizing what sat behind those familiar walls.
That morning, thanks to the initiative of Joanne Zarro of Zarro Mortgage, we had the opportunity to step inside and learn what the future could hold for this remarkable piece of Martin County history. Joanne coordinated the tour and brought together a group of local business owners who care deeply about the community we work in every day. It was a thoughtful reminder that business leaders can also play a role in shaping the cultural future of our region.
I’ll be honest. I had no idea what we were walking into.
And I left genuinely inspired.
A Little History Goes a Long Way
Standing on the campus grounds, it quickly became clear that this property is more than just an old building. The Old Stuart High School first opened its doors in 1923, built on what were once pineapple fields. The school was designed by architect Frederick Homer Trimble, whose Art Deco design elements still define the character of the main structure today.
For decades, the campus served as the educational heart of Stuart. The last high school class graduated in 1963, after which the buildings transitioned into administrative offices for Martin County Schools, a role they held until 2016.
The campus also reflects a blend of architectural eras. In 1955 and 1956, mid-century additions designed by architect Don Armstrong were added to the property. These structures carry a clean, modernist style that contrasts with the decorative Art Deco features of the original building.
What impressed many of us on the tour was how MartinArts intends to celebrate that history rather than erase it. The vision for the property is not about replacing the past. It is about preserving it while creating something vibrant and useful for the future of Stuart Florida arts and the broader Martin County community.
What MartinArts Is Building: The Vision Explained
The larger vision is ambitious but grounded in practicality. MartinArts is developing the site as a Martin County arts campus, a creative hub where artists, organizations, and the public can gather, collaborate, and experience the arts together.
Rather than attempting a massive renovation all at once, the plan begins with three early phases designed to generate revenue and activity quickly, with an estimated build timeline of about 18 months once construction begins.
First is a cooperative makerspace, where artists can work in pottery, painting, glasswork, and other hands-on crafts. The design includes roll-up garage doors that allow indoor and outdoor flexibility, encouraging a dynamic environment where the public can actually see art being made.
Connected to that space will be a public café, designed to serve both artists and visitors. With seating that spills into the courtyard, the café is intended to become a daily gathering place that draws the public onto the campus even if they are simply stopping in for coffee.
The third element is a collection of artist studios paired with a shared gallery corridor. Artists will be able to rent affordable working studios while exhibiting their work in a central public-facing gallery. Visitors can walk the corridor, meet artists, and experience rotating exhibitions.
These buildings are intentionally planned as the first revenue-generating phase, helping fund the much larger renovation of the historic campus structures that sit behind them.
The Crown Jewel: The Historic Auditorium
While the new spaces are exciting, the moment that truly captured the group’s attention was stepping inside the 1923 main building.
The structure still holds remarkable architectural details, including decorative wooden beams, plaster corbels, and original transom windows. MartinArts plans to preserve these features as part of a careful restoration that respects the building’s Art Deco heritage.
The centerpiece of the renovation will be the historic auditorium, which is planned to become a roughly 300-seat performance venue.
But what really surprised many of us was one technical detail: the theatre will include a full fly system.
For those unfamiliar with theatre production, a fly system allows scenery, curtains, and stage elements to be raised and lowered above the stage. According to the presentation during our tour, this would be the only full fly-system theatre in Stuart. The Lyric Theatre has a partial fly capability, and the Barn Theatre does not have one.
That single feature opens the door to fully staged productions with complex sets and scenery, something that has been difficult to produce locally until now.
For a community like ours, that is a meaningful addition to the arts landscape.
Where Things Stand Today
One thing we appreciated about the presentation was its honesty.
The project is still moving forward, but it is also navigating the realities that many of us as business owners understand well. The top priority for MartinArts right now is finalizing a long-term lease with the Martin County School Board, which must be secured before construction can begin.
There is also an active conversation happening at the City of Stuart Commission level about the best use for the site, with some residents discussing the possibility of park or green space alternatives. In response to that conversation, MartinArts issued an open letter to the Commissioners on February 20, 2026, reaffirming their commitment to developing the arts campus.
The original construction timeline that targeted 2024–2025 has shifted.
But the vision itself remains intact.
As business owners, we know that the right projects sometimes take the right amount of time to come together.
Why This Matters for Martin County Business
Walking the property, it was hard not to imagine the ripple effects something like this could create.
A Martin County arts campus has the potential to drive foot traffic, increase tourism, and strengthen the cultural identity of Stuart. Restaurants, shops, and local businesses all benefit when people have more reasons to visit and stay in an area.
The makerspace and artist studios could also nurture a pipeline of creative entrepreneurs. Today’s studio artist may be tomorrow’s gallery owner, retail business, or even a future MCBE member.
And the 300-seat theatre fills a real gap in our local entertainment economy. Larger productions, regional performances, and new cultural programming all become more possible with the right venue.
For those of us in the Martin County Business Exchange, that kind of community investment matters. A thriving arts scene supports a thriving business community.
A Thank You to Everyone Who Showed Up
Before wrapping up, it’s worth saying thank you again to Joanne Zarro of Zarro Mortgage for organizing the tour and bringing the business community together to see the vision firsthand.
And thank you to the many MCBE members who took time out of their busy schedules to attend, including:
Aycock Funeral Homes, Gateway Filters, Group One Safety and Security, Investment Planning Group, KMH Senior Insurance, Kinane Printing, Mark Brechbill, PLLC, Mr. Appliance, North Stuart Centre, TC Business Brokers, Trusted Marketing, Water Pointe Realty Group, …and sincere apologies to anyone we may have missed. Your presence meant just as much.
If you are interested in the future of Old Stuart High School and the broader MartinArts vision for Stuart Florida arts, consider following MartinArts for updates, attending a public meeting, or simply staying involved in the conversation.
Projects like this do not just shape buildings.
They shape communities.