October 16, 2024

Powell Hall’s auditorium is sparkling following extensive painting and cleaning work inside the historic venue. For several months, crews have been carefully cleaning the gold leaf on the walls and revamped all the painted surfaces—including the iconic dome—to make the hall’s nationally recognized aesthetic shine anew.

Eight stories of scaffolding used to reach the heights of the space have been removed, showcasing the new, but familiar, look of the auditorium. The auditorium painting was the first in more than half a century that covered the entire space, unifying an uneven appearance created through painting only portions of the space over the years. The fresh coat of paint also covered up stains made when tobacco use was still permitted inside. The aesthetic appearance is further enhanced by the upgrades to the lighting in the auditorium which is more energy efficient and more easily controlled allowing for cost savings and flexibility.

Guests will be able to see the refreshed appearance when the Jack C. Taylor Music Center and Powell Hall open in September 2025.