Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center facts for kids
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| Address | Arts District, Dallas Dallas, Texas |
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| Coordinates | 32°47′23″N 96°47′55″W / 32.789768°N 96.798637°W |
| Public transit |  M-Line: Olive & Flora |
| Owner | City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs |
| Operator | Dallas Symphony Association |
| Type | Concert hall |
| Capacity | 2,062 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | September 1989 |
| Architect | I. M. Pei |
The Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center is a famous concert hall in Dallas, Texas. It's located in the city's Arts District. Many people think it's one of the best places in the world to hear an orchestra!
A famous architect named I. M. Pei designed the building. A sound expert, Russell Johnson, helped make sure the music would sound amazing inside. The center first opened its doors in September 1989.
The building is named after Morton Meyerson. He was a key person who helped the Dallas Symphony Association work for 10 years to create this special home for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. The center is where the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and the Dallas Symphony Chorus perform. Other music groups in Dallas also use it. The City of Dallas owns the center, and the Dallas Symphony Association manages it.
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Designing a Special Concert Hall
The outside of the Meyerson Symphony Center is round and made of glass and metal. This looks very different from the main concert hall inside, which has solid, straight lines. Architect I. M. Pei said the inside design was "very conservative." He wanted it to fit the classic music played there.
The people in charge of the project decided on a "shoebox style" for the main hall. This shape is known for great sound. Pei then designed the outside with curved shapes. He said this allowed him to be "free" and create an exciting space around the classic hall.
The Amazing Lay Family Organ
The Meyerson Symphony Center is also home to a huge organ called the Lay Family Concert Organ. It has 4,535 pipes! A man named Charles Fisk dreamed of building such a grand organ. Sadly, he passed away in 1983 before it was built.
His company finished the organ in 1991, and it was a big success. Organists Michael Murray and David Higgs played its first performance in September 1992.
How Sound Works in the Hall
The main concert hall, called the Eugene McDermott Concert Hall, was designed for perfect sound. Sound experts created a special "reverse fan" shape for the back of the room. This helps sound bounce around just right.
There are 74 thick concrete doors around the top of the hall. Each door weighs 2.5 tons! These can open or close to change how long sounds echo. Also, 56 special curtains help stop sound vibrations. A system of canopies, weighing over 42 tons, hangs above the stage. These can move up, down, or tilt to reflect sound to everyone in the audience. This design helps the hall sound as good as famous halls in Vienna and Amsterdam.
Fun Facts About the Center
The Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center is a huge and complex building. Here are some interesting facts about it:
- It has 260,000 square feet (about 24,155 square meters) of space above ground.
- There are 225,000 square feet (about 20,903 square meters) of space underground.
- Builders used 35,130 cubic yards (about 26,857 cubic meters) of concrete.
- The building features 30,000 square feet (about 2,787 square meters) of Italian marble.
- It has 22,000 pieces of Indiana limestone.
- The Lay Family Organ has 4,535 pipes.
- There are 2,062 seats for the audience.
- The hall uses 918 square panels of African cherrywood and 216 square panels of American cherrywood.
- The unique conoid windows have 211 glass panels, and no two are exactly alike.
- The concert hall ceiling is 85 feet (about 26 meters) high.
- There are 74 concrete doors for sound, each weighing 2.5 tons.
- The hall has 56 acoustical curtains.
- You can find 50 restrooms in the building.
- There are 4 private suites for meetings or small performances.
See also
In Spanish: Centro de Sinfonía Morton H. Meyerson para niños
