Long Center for the Performing Arts facts for kids
Long Center side entrance
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| Address | 701 W. Riverside Drive Austin, Texas United States |
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| Coordinates | 30°15′37″N 97°45′04″W / 30.2602°N 97.7512°W |
| Owner | City of Austin |
| Operator | Greater Austin Performing Arts Center |
| Type | Performing arts center |
| Capacity | Michael & Susan Dell Hall: 2,442 Debra and Kevin Rollins Studio Theatre; 229 City Terrace: 2,000 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 28 March 2008 |
| Architect | Nelsen Partners and Ziedler Partnership Architects |
The Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Center for the Performing Arts is a cool place in Austin, Texas. It's right by Lady Bird Lake in downtown. This center is where the Austin Symphony Orchestra, Austin Opera, and Ballet Austin perform. Many other local arts groups also use this amazing venue.
Contents
Discovering the Long Center's Past
Before the Long Center, there was a building called Lester Palmer Municipal Auditorium. On November 22, 1963, U.S. President John F. Kennedy was scheduled to speak there. He was going to attend a dinner for 5,000 people.
Why a New Arts Center Was Needed
In the late 1990s, Austin's main performing arts groups needed a better place to perform. The symphony, opera, and ballet companies joined together. They formed a group called Arts Center Stage. Their goal was to raise money and plan a new, shared performing arts center.
They asked the City of Austin if they could use and update the old Lester E. Palmer Auditorium. In 1998, the city agreed to let them lease the building. In April 1999, the project was named after Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long. They had given $20 million to help build the new center.
Building the Long Center in Phases
An early plan for the center was made in November 1999. By August 2001, Arts Center Stage had raised over $61 million. The total cost was expected to be $110 million. The original design included four theaters of different sizes.
However, the economy slowed down in 2002–2003. The Long Center's leaders decided to find ways to lower the building costs. In October 2003, they approved a new plan. This plan involved building the Long Center in steps, or "phases."
Phase I included the Michael & Susan Dell Hall, which seats 2,242 people. It also included the Debra & Kevin Rollins Studio Theatre, which seats 229. Later phases would add more theaters and education buildings.
After 10 years of work, the Long Center officially opened on March 28, 2008. The first phase cost $77 million. All of this money came from private donations. Over 4,600 people helped fund the project.
How the Old Auditorium Was Recycled
To save money and help the environment, 95% of the old Palmer Auditorium was reused. This material was used to build Phase I of the Long Center. For example, the circular "ring-beam" around the City Terrace was once part of the old auditorium's structure.
The aluminum panels from the old roof were used again. They became part of the outside and inside walls of the Dell Hall. Also, five tons of steel from the Palmer Auditorium were melted down. This recycled steel was then used to build the new Long Center.
Who Performs at the Long Center?
The Long Center is home to several amazing performing arts groups.
Founding Resident Companies
These three groups were key to creating the Long Center:
- Austin Opera
- Austin Symphony Orchestra
- Ballet Austin
Other Resident Companies
Many other Austin performance groups also use the Long Center:
- Austin Shakespeare
- Pollyanna Theatre Company
- Tapestry Dance
- Conspirare
Exploring the Stages and Venues
The Long Center has several different spaces for performances and events:
- Michael and Susan Dell Hall – This is a large concert hall with 2,442 seats. It has different levels, including a mezzanine and balcony.
- Debra and Kevin Rollins Studio Theatre – This is a flexible "black-box" theater. It can seat 80 to 229 people. The seating can be changed for different types of shows.
- City Terrace and Hartman Concert Park – This outdoor terrace is next to the Dell Hall. It offers great views of Lady Bird Lake and downtown Austin. The "ring beam" from the old Palmer Auditorium circles this area.
- Kodosky Donor Lounge – This is an indoor lounge on the mezzanine level. It has big windows with views of the city.
- West Pincer Terrace & Lounge – This is a covered outdoor lounge on the west side of the mezzanine.
- AT&T Education Rooms – These are two rooms used for small events, meetings, or classes.
- ICON Stage – This is an outdoor stage built in 2023 using 3D printing. It's on the North lawn and has great views of the Austin skyline.
Who Designed the Long Center?
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Many talented architects and designers worked on the Long Center:
- Zeidler Partnership Architects
- TeamHaas Architects
- Nelsen Partners
- Fischer Dachs Associates
- Jaffe Holden Acoustics, Inc.
- Architectural Engineers Collaborative (Structural Engineering)
