Benaroya Hall in downtown Seattle is completing its largest renovation since opening in 1998. The $20 million project, carried out as part of the Amplify campaign, is intended to transform the building from a venue primarily for Seattle Symphony performances into a public space open throughout the day.
Located near Pike Place Market, the central business district, public transit stops and major pedestrian routes, Benaroya Hall is accessible not only to concertgoers. The renovated areas will be available to nearby office workers, tourists, local residents and people waiting for transportation. The hall is thus intended to become part of the city’s everyday life rather than an isolated cultural institution.
After the renovation, visitors will be able to work and meet in the Boeing Company Gallery, buy coffee, breakfast and lunch at the modernized café, and explore exhibitions by local artists. The Overlook Lounge, offering views of downtown, has been added on the promenade level, along with more than 480 new seats throughout the building. The gallery will be open on weekdays from morning through evening, regardless of the concert schedule.
The renovation covered approximately 42,500 square feet and was funded largely by foundations and private donors, including the Gates Foundation, Norcliffe Foundation, Friday Foundation, and the family of artists Dale and Leslie Jackson Chihuly. Architecture firm Mithun and contractor Sellen Construction redesigned the entrances, main lobby and wayfinding system to make it easier for visitors to navigate the building and linger there after performances.
The design is inspired by the “geometry of music”: interiors feature flowing lines reminiscent of melodic phrases, rhythmic geometric elements and warm wood tones associated with classical instruments. The former box office has been converted into a multifunctional community room for educational programs and more comfortable viewing for people with heightened sensory sensitivities.
The menu, created with chef Ethan Stowell and Sodexo Live!, features dishes from the U.S. Northwest, including a Dungeness crab salad, Beecher’s grilled cheese and focaccia pizza. These offerings highlight the region’s culinary culture: Dungeness crab is harvested along the Pacific coast, while Beecher’s cheese is made in Seattle, near Pike Place Market. Seafood, local dairy products, apples and berries reflect the cuisine’s connection to the natural resources of the Pacific Northwest, its temperate climate and its tradition of farmers markets.
The public will get its first look at the renovated spaces during the season opening on Sept. 19, when conductor Xian Zhang, the Seattle Symphony and pianist Yuja Wang will perform works by Sergei Prokofiev. In addition, Benaroya Hall will host a free, all-day open house on Oct. 18 featuring an exhibition by Arte Noir, a performance by the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra, a National Geographic Live presentation and a concert by orchestra musicians with the band The Head and the Heart. Hall leaders hope the renovated venue will attract new listeners and become a regular gathering place for city residents.
Based on: Seattle’s Benaroya Hall to debut $20M in renovations with season opener