Daniel Burnham designed it for free, and one of the world's great orchestras has played it for more than a century. Symphony Center at 220 South Michigan Avenue in the Chicago Loop is the home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, anchored by Orchestra Hall, which opened on 14 December 1904 with founder Theodore Thomas conducting the dedicatory concert. Thomas had campaigned for years to move his orchestra out of the cavernous Auditorium Theatre; CSO trustee Burnham - the architect-planner of the White City and the Plan of Chicago - volunteered his services, and more than 8,000 Chicagoans contributed to the 750,000-dollar building fund. Thomas led one rehearsal in the finished hall, wired Burnham that the quality exceeded all expectations, and died three weeks after opening night; the facade still reads Theodore Thomas Orchestra Hall beneath the names of Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and Wagner. The Georgian brick-and-limestone landmark - a National Historic Landmark since 1994 - was transformed by the 120-million-dollar renovation and expansion of 1995-97 by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill with acousticians Kirkegaard Associates. The project raised the roof to enlarge the acoustic volume, added an adjustable canopy over a deepened stage, restored the 2,522-seat hall's interior, and knitted the block into a full campus: Buntrock Hall for rehearsal and chamber performance, the Grainger Ballroom overlooking the Art Institute, a six-story skylit rotunda, a restaurant, and administrative offices in the adjoining 1904 Chapin and Gore Building. Symphony Center opened formally on 4 October 1997. The resident is the institution: the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, founded 1891 and one of America's Big Five, whose music directors from Fritz Reiner through Georg Solti, Daniel Barenboim and Riccardo Muti made the hall the recording home of one of the most Grammy-decorated orchestras in history. The Chicago Symphony Chorus, Civic Orchestra of Chicago and a presented season of piano recitals, jazz, chamber and visiting orchestras fill the calendar from September to June. Facing Michigan Avenue's cultural mile opposite the Art Institute, Symphony Center remains what Thomas and Burnham built - a working monument where Chicago's signature sound is made nightly.

Type: Theater / Concert Hall

Address: 220 S Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL, United States, 60604

Website: https://cso.org

Capacity: 2522

Opening Date: 14/12/1904

Serves Food

Accessible