Symphony Hall – designed for varied cultural events

Symphony Hall first opened in 1972 as a cultural complement to the Phoenix Convention Center, which opened earlier that same year. Symphony Hall, owned and operated by the Phoenix Convention Center, has continually enjoyed steady use as home to The Phoenix Symphony, Arizona Opera and Ballet Arizona. It is also the site for Broadway touring companies, a variety of dance productions, and appearances by popular entertainers, as well as for business seminars and convention general sessions.

Time to renovate and renew

In 2001, Phoenix voters approved $18.5 million to renovate the then-29-year-old Symphony Hall as part of the city’s Cultural Bond program.

While the Symphony Hall renovation was approved and funded separately from a $600-million expansion of the Phoenix Convention Center, the city scheduled the Symphony Hall work for the same time and by the same construction firm as the Convention Center’s Phase-One expansion.

Combining the two projects accomplished two key objectives. It:

• created major economies of scale, allowing a greater portion of Symphony Hall’s renovation budget to be spent on physical-building improvements.
  
• minimized the impact of Phoenix Convention Center construction on Symphony Hall patrons, since the most disruptive convention-center construction was completed while Symphony Hall was closed for renovations.

During the 15-month renovation that began June 2004, the hall’s three resident companies (The Phoenix Symphony, Arizona Opera and Ballet Arizona) held their performances at other venues, primarily the historic Orpheum Theatre and the Dodge Theatre, both in downtown Phoenix.

Results elevate patrons’ enjoyment

When Symphony Hall reopened — on schedule and on budget — in September 2005, the hall was dramatically improved, offering patrons a significantly enhanced arts experience. Renovation provided:

• New entrance and plaza facing Second Street at Second and Adams streets
• Larger lobby expanded to 7,550 square feet
• New, expanded ticket office
• New carpeting in the lobbies and audience chamber
• 2,312 new upholstered auditorium chairs with wood bases for better acoustics
• Reconfigured main-floor cross aisles, additional elevators and a new wheelchair seating section to improve accessibility for patrons with disabilities
• New wall paneling made of ash, red oak, European ash and European steamed birch
• New, expanded performing-arts merchandise and food service areas
• New, quieter heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system
• New roof