£12m revamp plan for Symphony Hall foyer
A £12 million re-development of the foyer of Symphony Hall in Birmingham is to take place.
Town Hall Symphony Hall has appointed Glasgow-based Page\Park Architects to lead the design team to open the the building onto a regenerated Centenary Square.
The concert hall, which shares an entrances with the city centre's International Convention Centre and is home to the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.
It also hosts top jazz, world music, folk, rock, pop and stand-up comedy. Last year alone saw performances from Sir Van Morrison, Tony Bennett, Kraftwerk, Robert Plant and Idina Menzel.
Nick Reed, chief executive of Town Hall Symphony Hall said: "This project will finally give Symphony Hall the foyers and public spaces to match its world class auditorium. Boasting a much improved audience experience and a dedicated entrance, this permeable space will be energised with new artistic adventures, creating a sustainable future for Symphony Hall, and developing an audience that looks like the city it serves: young, diverse and creative.
"Page\Park have presented some inspiring ideas on how the building can help achieve our objectives and we look forward to now working with them to develop the detailed design. We are very grateful for the early encouragement offered by both the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership Local Growth Fund and the Arts Council of England and we are now preparing final funding bids with both bodies."
Page\Park head of architecture David Page said: "Birmingham’s Centenary Square is being transformed into a remarkable heart of the city with its assembly of important civic cultural buildings. The new Symphony Hall frontage will provide a multi levelled balcony to that new setting and Page\Park are delighted to be able to shape that contribution."
Roger Mendonca, director of GBSLEP, said: "For more than 25 years, the Symphony Hall has been a major draw for Greater Birmingham and Solihull, entertaining audiences in one of the finest concert auditoriums in the world.
"GBSLEP’s contribution to the Symphony Hall is part of our commitment to sustaining the region’s cultural and tourism offer, coming hot on the heels of Birmingham’s 2022 Commonwealth Games prize and nearby Coventry’s 2021 City of Culture win. By supporting the venue’s extension, we are ensuring that the Symphony Hall transforms its commercial offer, generates new jobs and enhances the experience of its many visitors."
