louise m. davies symphony hall

1992

San Francisco, CA

The Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco required 40 pounds per square foot of wall panels, the key elements in a major acoustic renovation. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the panels were mounted onto massive steel trusses to “close-in” the space around the orchestra and direct the sound to the audience and musicians. No two 88 panels are the same shape, and some weigh as much as 8,500 lbs. K&A solved a significant installation problem by making the panels hollow and light enough to lift inside the building and then filling them with sand.

Engineer: Juri Komendant

Architect: SOM

General Contractor: Dinwiddie Construction

Acoustician: Lawrence Kierkegaard

Project Management: Stewart Donnell, DCI