Music-education business in Mesa to remodel building facade

By Richard Dyer
Mail | X: @RHDyer

An exterior facade is to remodeled at a 7,195-square-foot office building for Let’s Play Music west of Brown and Lindsay roads near Mountain View High School in Mesa.

The development’s look was discussed during the Feb. 10 meeting of the Mesa Design Review Board. Board member Denise Dunlop was absent.

There are no site plan modifications planned except two gable roofs being added to the facade, Staff Planner Sergio Solis said during the board’s Feb. 10 meeting.

“No changes to the footprint of the building. The only thing is it is really just enhancing that attractive view from Brown Road. There’s some proposed changes to the paint and just bringing the stucco down on those new elements it really ties in the whole northern facade,” he said.

Let’s Play Music provides curriculum and music education products for private teachers to use in their studios. Employees provide customer service to 350 teachers and 11,000 students nationally, ship products to customers and plan events to train and support teachers, according to a written project narrative from FINN Architects LLC.

“The specific architectural features are the two new gable features, one to serve at the main entry and secondary building access/entry point,” it states. “Site circulation and access is served by two existing drives to remain. The existing site lighting is to remain with the exception of new wall (packs) at the new gabled areas.”

The all-volunteer Mesa Design Review Board is unique in that its composition is set by the zoning ordinance to include two architects; two from other design professions such as landscape architecture, engineering, urban planning, interior design or other design-related background; one contractor or developer; and two residents, according to the city’s website.

Richard H. Dyer can be reached at rdyer@iniusa.org, or on X @rhdyer. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines, https://www.yourvalley.net/civility-checklist/.

Richard Dyer
Managing Editor | East Valley

rdyer@iniusa.org

Meet Richard
Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.  

Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions. 

Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.

Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.

Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.