seattle symphony's benaroya hall

LMN's design for Benaroya Hall accommodates two superb performance halls in a complex that is thoroughly integrated into downtown Seattle. Occupying an entire block at the city's core, the building celebrates the vital role of the arts to community life, while maintaining the continuity of commercial life and providing an inviting terraced and landscaped public space. The cylindrical volume of the lobby sets it apart from surrounding buildings, while the interior of subtly articulated windows offers outstanding views that encompass Puget Sound, the Seattle Art Museum, and the towers of Seattle's skyline. At night, the entire height of the lobby's surfaces of clear and frosted glass form a giant lantern that illuminates the streetscape. A block-long arcade offers access to the concert and recital hall lobbies, the ticket office, shops, cafes, an underground garage, and the transit tunnel adjacent to the site. Inside the rectangular concert hall, architecture and acoustical considerations are melded into a seamless aesthetic experience. Dark wood on the enclosing surfaces, with ivory tones on the inner layer of balcony fronts, ceiling panels, and the stage enclosure, give the room a feeling of intimacy, closely connecting each audience member to the stage. Superior sound quality is assured by the hall's traditional shape, as well as the use of faceted and coffered wood and plaster surfaces to effectively disperse sound. Gerard Schwarz, Music Director for the Seattle Symphony, states, "We are extremely excited about the design for this important work, a work that will be the prized jewel of this wonderful city."

city & completion date
Seattle, Washington 1998

client
Seattle Symphony Orchestra

construction cost
$118,000,000

project size
200,000 gross square feet

architect
LMN Architects

acoustical consultant
Dr. Cyril Harris