SLSO Stories

Follow Along with the Powell Hall Expansion and Renovation

Powell Hall is one of America’s most acoustically renowned and visually stunning concert halls—and home to your St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. We’re renovating and expanding the 98-year-old building to preserve and enhance our civic treasure for generations to come.

This project is inspired by you: our goal is to provide greater access to music, an even more welcoming and comfortable experience for all, and a creative hub that helps us build connections through the power of music.

The revitalized Powell Hall will open in 2025 to coincide with the building’s centennial. We look forward to celebrating with you.

Learn more about the expansion and renovation

June 4, 2024

A bold design element of the new lobby expansion has begun to take shape. An anchor of the Snøhetta-designed space will be a spiral staircase that will connect to balconies on four floors outside of the auditorium. These new balconies will provide additional entries into the concert, and also provide more space for added amenities including restrooms, concessions areas, and a donor lounge.

Construction crews have begun formwork on the spiral staircase, which follows concrete pours on a new elevator shaft with access to all floors of the new lobby.  

  • May 31, 2024

    Recently, the iconic entry doors facing Grand Ave. to Powell Hall were removed as the entrances to Powell Hall and some of the interior spaces are reconfigured for a different use. When Powell Hall reopens in 2025, audiences will no longer enter under the marquee, instead accessing the hall through one of four accessible and covered entrances: through the new lobby facing southwest at […]

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  • May 7, 2024

    Over the past two months, the south side of Powell Hall has seen a dramatic change as crews have formed and poured concrete for the SLSO’s new lobby and guest services expansion, which provide much-needed amenities to improve the visitor experience. Last week, forming continued on the fourth and final floor of the expansion that will connect to […]

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  • April 5, 2024

    Part of the expansion and renovation of Powell Hall, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s home, includes infrastructure changes. Recently, new cooling towers were lifted onto the roof of the backstage addition. These cooling towers will help regulate the temperature of the building, creating a comfortable space for audiences and artists. Previously located near the concert […]

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  • March 21, 2024

    The expansion and renovation of Powell Hall reached a milestone today, as the institution marked one year since ground was broken on the project. In that year, the backstage expansion—which will house needed artist amenities including a new music library, lounges, dressing rooms, and media suites—has taken shape. Meanwhile, the walls of the Education and […]

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  • March 1, 2024

    The renovation of Powell Hall’s auditorium took a major step forward recently when crews erected scaffolding to begin a major refresh. Scaffolds rising seven floors from the orchestra level will give experts access to the walls and ceilings for detailed cleaning and repainting work of the intricate cream and gold interior. Once the renovation is […]

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  • February 26, 2024

    Much of the backstage expansion of Powell Hall is now visible—facilities that include a new Education and Learning Center and amenities for musicians and visiting artists.  Now, parts of the front of house expansion are coming into view as construction crews progress on that part of the project.  Two elevators will be added to the […]

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  • January 8, 2024

    2024 began with a milestone in the renovation of Powell Hall’s auditorium. Construction crews began the concrete overpour of the main floor. Once complete, the floor will be reshaped and include a new cross-auditorium aisle with additional ADA-accessible seating. The renovated auditorium will have new lighting and seats, bringing the house to a comfortable and […]

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  • December 15, 2023

    Watch as the floor for the SLSO’s new Education and Learning Center is poured in the video below.

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  • December 7, 2023

    In a milestone for the expansion and renovation of Powell Hall, construction crews poured the first floor of the Education and Learning Center at the southeast corner of the building. Sheer walls are also rising around the new expansion. Connecting to the existing building, the Education and Learning Center will become the new home for […]

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  • November 8, 2023

    As the backstage expansion of Powell Hall progresses (the walls and floors now visible to passersby), the outline of the new entrance and visitors’ services expansion is taking shape. Positioned south of the existing building, this part of the expansion will welcome audiences in through a dramatic glass arch, allowing natural light to flood the […]

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  • October 25, 2023

    No, those silver sleeves aren’t new stools added to the Powell Hall auditorium! The construction team continues coring holes in the auditorium floor for HVAC diffusers. The sleeves on top of the existing floor will allow air to pass through the new concrete poured on the orchestra level floor. When complete, the new concrete overpour […]

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