St Louis Symphony Orchestra

This 65,000 sf expansion and renovation of Powell Hall, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s concert hall since 1968, is the first significant effort to modernize this esteemed venue, a cornerstone of the Grand Center arts district. The expansion revitalizes the home of the institution, the second oldest orchestra in the United States, providing a new lobby with improved accessibility, education facilities, and new spaces for special events and artist use. Working in collaboration with Snøhetta and Christner Architects, Front consulted on building enclosure for the expansion from schematic design through construction administration.

The expansion features arched openings that echo historic St. Louis structures, and large glass curtain walls framed with light-colored curved and battered brick masonry veneer, supported at the arched openings via doubly curved concealed lintel.
In addition to the brick masonry and curtain walls, Front’s scope included curved aluminum soffits and copings, exterior glazed entrances, entrance canopies, and transition systems at the existing building interface.

The project was completed in 2025, the Orchestra’s centennial year.