Symphony Center facts for kids
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Orchestra Hall (2021)
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| Address | 220 S. Michigan Ave. |
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| Location | Chicago, Illinois |
| Owner | Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association |
| Type | Concert hall |
| Capacity | Orchestra Hall: 2,522 Armour Stage: 150 Grainger Ballroom: 300 The Club at Symphony Center: 120 Buntrock Hall: 350 |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1904 |
| Opened | December 14, 1904 |
| Website | |
 Location in Chicago metropolitan area
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| Architect | Daniel Burnham |
| NRHP reference No. | 78001127 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | March 21, 1978 |
| Designated NHL | April 19, 1994 |
Symphony Center is a big music building in Chicago, Illinois. It's located at 220 South Michigan Avenue in the Loop area. This cool place is home to the famous Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO). It also hosts the Chicago Symphony Chorus and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.
Symphony Center has several important parts:
- Orchestra Hall: This is the main concert hall with 2,522 seats. It was built way back in 1904!
- Buntrock Hall: A space used for rehearsals and smaller performances.
- Grainger Ballroom: A fancy room for events, with great views of Michigan Avenue.
- A public area with many levels called a rotunda.
- Forte: A restaurant and café where you can grab a bite.
- Offices for the people who manage the orchestra.
In 1993, people decided to make Orchestra Hall even better. They planned a huge project to update and expand it. This big project, which cost $110 million, finished in 1997. That's when it became the Symphony Center we know today.
The famous architect Daniel Burnham designed Orchestra Hall. Because it's so special, it was named a National Historic Landmark in 1994. It has also been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1978.
History of Symphony Center
Orchestra Hall was built in 1904. It was designed by the well-known Chicago architect Daniel Burnham. The hall was made specifically for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Before this, the orchestra played in a larger theater called the Auditorium Theatre.
Construction of Orchestra Hall started on May 1, 1904. The very first concert was held on December 14, 1904. On the front of the building, you can see "Theodore Thomas Orchestra Hall" written. This is to honor Theodore Thomas, who was the orchestra's first music director. He passed away shortly after his first concert there.
Above the ballroom windows on the outside, you can also see the names of famous composers. These include Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, and Wagner.
From 1907 to 1996, a club called the Cliff Dwellers Club was located on the ninth floor. The inside of their space was designed by Howard Van Doren Shaw. It also featured an important painting by John Warner Norton.
The offices for Symphony Center are in the old Chapin and Gore Building. This building was also built in 1904. It was designed by architects Richard E. Schmidt and Hugh M. G. Garden. This historic building became part of the Symphony Center campus during the 1997 updates.
Orchestra Hall wasn't always just for concerts. In the 1910s, it was used as a movie theater during the summer. This helped the building earn money when the Chicago Symphony Orchestra was playing at the Ravinia Festival. Many interesting talks and programs were also held there. Famous speakers included Harry Houdini, Richard E. Byrd, Amelia Earhart, Bertrand Russell, and Orson Welles.
In 2008, the Symphony Center hosted the 2008 Green National Convention. In 2012, it welcomed the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates. This big event happened at the same time as the 2012 Chicago Summit.
How the Sound Changed (Acoustics)
Acoustics is about how sound travels and sounds in a room. For a long time, people thought the sound in Orchestra Hall could be better. So, they made big changes to the main hall in the late 1960s. Then, even bigger improvements happened between 1995 and 1997 as part of the Symphony Center project.
Many people felt that the sound improvements from 1995-1997 were very successful. They noticed the hall sounded much better, with a deeper and more open sound. The low string instruments, like cellos and basses, sounded warmer and stronger. The overall sound of the orchestra became richer.
While some small adjustments were still needed, especially for high-pitched sounds, the changes made a huge difference. For example, bass drums, which used to sound dry, now had a new richness. Violins also had a fuller sound. Listeners in different parts of the hall, like the balcony, said the sound was much better.
One music critic noted that even for a piano concert, the sound was improved. There was more warmth and space around the piano. This shows how much the acoustics had changed for the better. The people who worked on the sound continued to make small tweaks to get it just right.
See also
In Spanish: Symphony Center (Chicago) para niños
- Chicago Symphony Orchestra
- List of concert halls
- Theodore Thomas
