Town Hall Symphony Hall is delighted to announce the appointment of Page \ Park Architects as Multi-Disciplinary Design Team lead for a proposed £12-million foyer development, opening the building onto a regenerated Centenary Square and reinforcing Symphony Hall’s place in Birmingham city life.
Widely considered one of the finest Concert Halls in the world, Symphony Hall sits in the bustling heart of Birmingham City Centre and as well as being home to the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra also hosts the best in jazz, world music, folk, rock, pop and stand-up comedy. Last year alone saw performances from Sir Van Morrison, Tony Bennett, Kraftwerk, Robert Plant CBE and Idina Menzel.
Nick Reed, Chief Executive Officer for 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 GBSLEP Local Growth Fund and the Arts Council of England and we are now preparing final funding bids with both bodies.
Nick Reed
Along with Town Hall, Symphony Hall plays an important role in the life of the region – connecting over 15,000 young people and adults to a world of music and performance through education, community and talent development projects – and is regularly used for community events, graduation ceremonies and conferences.
Page \ Park Architects are delighted to be appointed to work with Performances Birmingham Ltd. on the extension of the foyers to the Birmingham Symphony Hall.
David Page, Head of Architecture 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.
David Page
The project is conditionally supported through the Local Growth Fund by the Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership.
Roger Mendonca, Director, Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (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.
Roger Mendonca