Guided Tours of Arcosanti
Explore and Learn About Arcosanti
Daily tours of the unique architecture and grounds at Arcosanti, led by a knowledgeable resident tour guide, are held multiple times every day of the year except for major holidays.
Visitors to Arcosanti, the world’s first prototype arcology consciously integrating architecture and ecology into its design, will learn about the rich 50-year history of the project and understand why Arcosanti continues to influence young architects, urban planners, and designers from around the world.
Daily Tour
Our in-depth guided tour begins with a brief history of Arcosanti from its beginning in 1970 to today. Included on the daily tour are the iconic silt-cast and form-cast concrete structures, interior and exterior spaces, the bronze foundry, and the ceramics studio. Additionally, tour guides will share the origins and history of Arcosanti, why it is where it is, the community of environmentally-conscious residents that occupy it, and what Arcosanti continues to teach us about sustainable architecture.
Arcosanti is open daily for tours except New Year’s Day, Easter, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
Due to COVID-19, tours are currently limited to a maximum of 10 people. All visitors are required to wear a mask in the Visitor’s Center, Gallery, Cafe, and other indoor spaces.
Monday through Friday @ 9:30 am | 11:00 am | 12:30 pm | 2:00 pm
Saturday & Sunday @ 9:30 am | 11:00 am | 12:30 pm | 2:00 pm | 3:30 pm
Duration: 60-90 minutes
Tour Prices:
- $20/General
- $12/Students with ID
- Children 12 and under free
K-12 School Tour
Throughout the academic year, Arcosanti welcomes student groups in grades K-12 to experience the project first-hand through a brief tour of its architecture and grounds and thoughtfully planned activities. Enhanced with pre- and post-tour classroom materials developed by master educators, this tour experience geared toward students enriches academics through connections to STEAM areas of science, technology, engineering, art, and math.
Duration: 1.5 hours
Start times: Contact us to schedule your school tour.
Tour Fee: $12/per student, teacher, and chaperone
Architectural Tour
This behind-the-scenes Architectural Tour is led by Tomiaki Tamura, Arcosanti resident, a long-term architectural assistant to Paolo Soleri, having first-hand experience in planning and building the distinctive architecture of Arcosanti. From an expansive explanation of how the same earth-casting technique used to make Ceramic Windbells influenced the unique way the buildings at Arcosanti were constructed, to an innovative spatial arrangement focusing on passive heating and cooling via creating microclimates, effective daylighting and acoustics. The tour also shares a basic understanding of Arcology, an urban development concept, evident in Arcosanti’s mixed-use spaces.
*Maximum of 10 participants
PLEASE NOTE: This tour is not ADA-accessible. The Architectural Tour explores grounds and structures at Arcosanti with narrow pathways, steps, uneven walkways, and other structural and natural features that may be challenging to guests with mobility concerns. If you have mobility concerns, we recommend booking the Daily or Archives Tours instead.
Duration: Architectural Tours begin at 10:15 AM and last for approximately 90 minutes, ending by noon.
Upcoming Dates: October 30th, November 13th, November 27th, December 11th, January 27th
Tour Fee: $30
Archives Tour
Led by the Director of the Archives, the Archives Tour is an insightful exploration into the art and ideas of the Arcosanti’s founding architect Paolo Soleri. Focusing on models, sketches, photographs, and journals from those who built Arcosanti over its 50 years, this enriching tour provides a look into the past as well as the future. Through virtual reality technology, many original Soleri sketches are “brought to life” and give participants on this tour amazing access to the creative brilliance of groundbreaking and complex arcology concepts that predicted a radical reimagining of what cities of today could have become.
*Maximum of 6 participants
Duration: 1.5 hours
Start times: Email tours@arcosanti.org to schedule an Archives Tour
Tour Fee: $30
Sustainability Tour
At Arcosanti, sustainable technology solutions combine elements of design and creativity in the use of available resources to achieve inventive urban design solutions. During this in-depth tour of Arcosanti’s sustainable systems, participants will learn about construction techniques, mechanical system efficiencies, and natural resource utilization developed for this unique urban prototype. Led by Scott Riley, who has participated in the design, installation, and operation of solar-powered pumping stations, gravity-fed irrigation systems, a technologically-sophisticated grey water system, and an efficient hydronic heating system, participants on this tour will gain a greater understanding of the smart operating systems that make Arcosanti run.
*Maximum of 10 participants
Duration: 1.5 hours
Start times: Email tours@arcosanti.org to schedule a Sustainability Tour
Tour Fee: $30
Day visitors must be part of a guided tour in order to explore the grounds and architecture of Arcosanti.
The Visitor’s Center, Café, Gallery & Gift Shop, and restrooms are accessible to day visitors who do not wish to take the guided tour.
Those visitors taking the guided tour will be asked to sign a Release Form prior to their tour.
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