City Performance Hall

A large group of us enjoyed a sneak peek at the plans for the new CityPerformance Hall in the Arts District.

The design by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill is stunning! This structure will hold its own with the other buildings in the Arts District.

It is comprised of parallel rectangular structures with alternating flowing roofs in an s-shaped pattern. The back of each hall has a lower roof than the front creating a ribbon effect. The ribbons alternate direction.

Phase I (bond money passed in 2006) will consist of the 750 seat performance hall optimized for music and dance and support space.
Construction should begin in 2008 with completion in 2010.

Phase II (hopefully on the anticipated 2010 bond election) will finish out the building with two black box theaters seating about 200 each.

The location is the entire block bounded by Flora St, Jack Evans, Ross Ave, and Routh St. The entire complex will front on Flora St. facing the Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. The Jack Evans side will be across the street from the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre. That side will initially be landscaped and eventually house the black box theaters.

Stay tuned for pictures after presentation to the City Council on Feb 12-13.