St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
A facility to nurture the creative process
2019–2025
Introduction
Beginning in 2019, Snøhetta in collaboration with Christner Architects (AoR), Kirkegaard, and Schuler Shook, led the design for the expansion and modernization of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s historic performance space, Powell Hall. To ring in the performance hall’s centennial in 2025, the organization embarked on an ambitious 64,000-square-foot expansion with Snøhetta as design architect and landscape architect. The project will allow the concert hall to be more fully accessible and open to the community, creating a facility that supports and nurtures the creative process from idea to performance.
At the renewed Powell Hall, a collection of public spaces will work in concert with an expanded lobby and back-of-house to provide universal accessibility to the public, as well as educational facilities and improved back-stage spaces that enhance all aspects of community use of the concert hall.
Technical details
St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
Drawing on the spatial language of historic concert halls and the instruments within, the entry is shaped as a series of canted shells assembled from raked masonry, creating a front-of-house addition defined by simple inclined surfaces and arched openings. The arched urban windows offer a sense of joy and creative energy within, giving a glimpse of what lies inside even before entry. Inside, a suite of gathering areas situated within a triple-height space include terraces that overlook one another, allowing visitors to both see and be seen while attending performances.
Similarly inspired by the lyricism of music itself, Snøhetta designed a renewed public plaza at the corner of Grand Boulevard and Samuel Shepard Drive that brings the activities of the concert hall outside into a welcoming, sunlit square. Urbanistically, the space focuses energy among our neighboring arts institutions and creates a dynamic new public space that serves many functions—from a space for gathering before events, to a space that integrates vehicle drop-off further east, to a plant-filled garden for the enjoyment of nature for all.
In other areas of the site, fluid circulation and arrival zones move people quickly to their destinations while also offering additional space that can be used for flexible programming. A series of routes throughout the plaza provides accessible pathways from multiple directions. Towering planting groves frame the entries, extending a sense of welcome to visitors.
A back-of-house expansion along the eastern side of Powell Hall provides state-of-the-art spaces for staff and musicians, community events, educational activities, and other collaborative programming while serving as a hub for innovation across artistic disciplines. The expansion creates modernized rehearsal spaces for SLSO ensembles, expanded backstage rooms, new media and recording suites, and storage areas for musician and guest artists.
The reconceptualized St. Louis Symphony Orchestra signals a renewed commitment to music, collaboration, and community—setting a new standard for concert halls beyond and establishing a resonant dialogue with the past.
About the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
Celebrated as a leading American orchestra, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is the second-oldest orchestra in the country, marking its 142nd year with the 2021/2022 season and its third with Music Director Stéphane Denève. The SLSO maintains its commitment to artistic excellence, educational impact, and community collaborations, honoring its mission of enriching lives through the power of music. The SLSO serves as a convener of individuals, creators, and ideas, and is committed to building community through compelling and inclusive musical experiences. As it continues its longstanding focus on equity, diversity, inclusion, and access, the SLSO embraces its strengths as a responsive, nimble organization, while investing in partnerships locally and elevating its presence globally. For more information, visit slso.org.