Orchestra Hall Chicago

Orchestra Hall in Chicago is the permanent home of the renowned Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO). The hall opened on December 14, 1904, and has been the ensemble's primary venue ever since. It is located at 220 South Michigan Avenue.

Orchestra Hall was designed by the famous architect Daniel H. Burnham in a neoclassical style. The original design featured a relatively modest exterior but was specifically engineered for superior acoustic resonance. It originally seated approximately 2,500 people when it first opened.

When Orchestra Hall originally opened in 1904, it seated approximately 2,500 people. The venue underwent a major renovation in the 1990s, which slightly altered the layout and expanded the backstage areas. Today, as part of the larger Symphony Center complex, it remains an intimate yet grand space for orchestral music.

Yes, Orchestra Hall is now the centerpiece of Symphony Center, a larger performing arts complex. The expansion, completed in 1997, connected the original hall to a new lobby and administrative offices. The complex is located directly on Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago.