ST. LOUIS — Powell Hall, one of St. Louis' iconic live music venues, will see the start of a major revitalization project in spring 2023.
The venue opened in 1925 as the St. Louis Theatre. After renovations, it reopened in 1968 as Powell Hall, the permanent home of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.
Now, almost a century after its opening, a 65,000-square-foot expansion project will set the stage for a whole new experience at Powell Hall, according to an announcement from SLSO.
The expansion project will transform the audience and artistic experience while protecting the architecture of the historic venue and its acoustics.
“We will preserve the history of Powell Hall while creating a state-of-the-art center for community, innovation, and powerful music experiences," SLSO President and CEO Marie-Hélène Bernard said in a statement.
The expansion will include:
- A 3,660-square-foot Education and Learning Center with rehearsal space and a venue for educational programs, receptions, and community gatherings.
- A three-story lobby with overlooking terraces and enhanced amenities.
- Significantly more backstage space for artists, with amenities like dressing rooms, a musician lounge, music library, practice spaces, recording studios, and more.
- New passenger drop-off locations with more accessible entryways.
- Outdoor green spaces with areas for audiences to gather.
The project will also include redoing a portion of the parking lot east of Powell Hall to make it more efficient for visitors.
While the venue undergoes construction, the SLSO said it will embrace the opportunity to engage new audiences with musical experiences throughout the community.
The revitalized Powell Hall is scheduled to open in 2025 to coincide with the building's 100th anniversary, according to SLSO.
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