Morton Myerson Symphony Center by I. M. Pei

Dallas, Texas

Architect: I.M. PeiAcoustician: Russell JohnsonStructural Engineers: Leslie E. Robertson Associates

Elena Nonino

Morton H. MeyersonSymphony Center

cULTURAL iNFLUENCE• Built in 1989, planned since 1982.

• Home for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Chorus.

• Located in the new Dallas Arts District, with the masterwork

of Renzo Piano, Norman Foster and Rem Koolhaas.

• Keystones in a citizen-backed “cultural revolution” that has

been taking place in Dallas since the mid-1970s.

• Modern cultural icon: need to establish Dallas as an inter-

national cultural center while revitalizing the city.

• Two primary components: an inward-looking music cham-

ber and an outward-looking lobby.

• On an annual basis there are over 325 concert hall events,

20-30 banquets, 200 photo and film shoots, and over 800

hours of rehearsal and recording activity.

Donors• It was 40% publicly funded and 60% privately funded.

• H. Ross Perot was the largest private donor and gave $10

million to build the center.

• His stipulation was that it be named after his good friend

Morton H. Meyerson, that was already involved in the

project.

•Wendy Reves was another donor and gave $2 million.

• to build the Wendy and Emery Reves’ Arch of Peace , to

reprint Emery’s book and also for the musical composition

and recording of Anatomy of Peace in Reves’s memory

played by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra (1991).

Design• Formalism, which is itself defined by clashing grids that

seem to defy logic, but resolve themselves.

• The glazed lenses bathe the lobby spaces in light, making

the arrival a performance itself.

• Pei was unwilling to impose modern styles of architecture

on the interior.

• Combination of overlapping geometric forms: rectangle set

at an angle within a square and is enveloped by segments

of circles. (Rectangle: the symphony hall. Circle: lobby,

garden court restaurant and sculpture garden. Square:

parking garage.)

• Pei - I felt the need to be free,” he said. “Therefore, to wrap

another form around the “shoebox”, I started to use curvi-

linear forms.... It does have some spatial excitement in that

space for that reason.

Elevations

North Elevation East Elevation

South Elevation West Elevation

lobby• The lobby is in contrast to the necessarily hermetic

performance hall.

• The lobby is laid out on three levels.

• On the ground level there is the real lobby space, very open

and full of light.

• The lower floor is a functional, subdued space to connect

to the parking garage.

• The upper balcony gives a great view of “The Dallas

Panels” by Ellsworth Kelly.

•With its restaurant, outdoor garden and sculpture court the

lobby provides an inviting place for the public to congre-

gate when performances are not in progress.

FLORA STREET

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ING

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SIDEWALK

CURB LINE

BUILDING & PROPERTY LINE

PERCUSSIONHARM UP ROOM

RAMP DM TO FLORA ST. GARAGE

TO LOWER LOBBY DROP OFFPLANTER

PROPERTY LINE

GARAGEEXHAUST

PLANTER

ORCHESTRAPERSONALMANAGER

ARTIST CONDUCTORCONCERTMASTER

MUSICDIRECTOR

MUSIC LIBRARY GREEN ROOM

RESTAURANTGARDEN

FOUNTAIN

BUIL

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PRO

PERT

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AIR

SUPP

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RILL

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SID

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CURB

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ENTRANCE LOBBY

VESTIBULE

MAIN LOBBY

PROPERTY LINE

EXTEND OF HALL CONSTRUCTION BELOW

PRO

PERTY

LIN

E

2nd ISOLATION JOINTAT STRUCTURAL SLAB

HALL

CO

NST.

GARAG

E C

ONST.

HALL

CO

NST.

GARAG

E C

ONST.

LOBBY

PERFORMANCE PLATFORM

PERFORMANCE PLATFORM

SUPPORT PLATFORM

LOBBY

T.C

E.C.

UP DN

WOMEN

MEN

DUCTJ.C

.

CHORUS

ASSEMBLY

DN

DN

DN

UP

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GS 7

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MEN

WOMEN

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GS 5

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OPEN TO

RESTAURANT BELO

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CHORUS

ASSEMBLY

WOMEN

MEN

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DN UP

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GS 8DN

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OPEN TO

GROUND FLOOR BELO

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RAILING

LIGHT F

IXTURE

MATCHLINE A217A216

OPEN TO BELOW

LOBBY

RAILING

PRIVATEDRESSING #1

PRIVATEDRESSING #2

PRIVATEDRESSING #3

MEN'S LOCKER RM WOMEN'S LOCKER RM

CORRIDOR

MEN'S LOCKER RMWOMEN'S LOCKER RM

WOMEN

OPEN

GLASS

EAST WING

A202

CANOPY

PS#3

PE3 DUCT

SE1

ROOF DRAIN TYP

H.P. EL 478'-5 1/2"2" ISOLATION JOIN

H.P. EL 478'-5 1/2"

L.P. EL 478'-3"

LIMESTONE COPING EL 479'-0"

NOTE: H.P. % L.P. ELEVATIONSARE TO TOP OF CONCRETESLABS.

SKYLIGHT SEEDETAIL 3 ONDWG. A-428

SKYLIGHT SEEDETAIL 3 ONDWG. A-428

H.P. EL 478'-5 1/2"GRILLE

A584

CANOPY

OPENGLASS

OPEN TOMAIN LOBBY BELOW

D-8A-384

lobby• The lobby has a huge size, but it appears small from the

outside.

• Grand Staircase is the focal point throughout the lobby

area.

• It becomes a social field for the surrounding business com-

munity to also enjoy the buildings on the same site.

• The floors are highly polished Italian Travertine Tile. The

white bannisters atop the limestone are white marble.

eugene mcdermott concert hall• It is considered a European “shoebox” style music

chamber with modern features, designed to establish inti-

macy between performer and audience.

Maybe it has a reverse fan shape?

• Intended to achieve acoustics performance compara-

ble to that of the Vienna Musikverein and the Amsterdam

Concertgebouw.

• It has 2062 seats.

• Volume 844,000 CF

• Concert Hall Area 260,000 SF

• Height 86 ft

• Length 101 ft

•Width 84 ft

•

• Volume per person 409.3 CF

• The orchestra terrace is an elevated floor that wraps around

the orchestra seating.

• The hall is arranged on three balcony levels on three sides

of the auditorium.

• There are 39 antechambers to provide sound locks at all

entrances to the concert hall, including backstage.

• Stage height 42 in

• Orchestra Stage 2,691 SF

• Chorus Stage 527 SF

Seating and stage

Loge and Choral TerraceOrchestra TerraceOrchestra Dress Circle Grand Tier

BOX V

BOX U

BOX T

BOX S

BOX R

BOX Q

BOX P

BOX O

BOX NBOX M

BOX LBOX K

BOX J

BOX H

BOX G

BOX F

BOX E

BOX D

BOX C

BOX B

BOX A

SECTION B

SECTION C SECTION A AISLE 5

AISLE 6AISLE 8

AISLE 7

EAST WEST

STAGE

THE MORTON H. MEYERSON SYMPHONY CENTERLOGE AND CHORAL TERRACE SEATING

A

B

CD

A

B

CD

A B C

D

ABC

D

109

87

65

43

12

1413

1211

109

87

56

43

21

1413

1211

109

87

56

43

21

1110

98

75

64

32

1

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 109

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 109 11 12 13

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 109 11 12 13 14

1 2 3 4 5 6

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 2423

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 2524 26 27 28

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 2423 25 26 27 28 29

7 8 109 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

12

34

56

78

109

12

34

57

68

910

11

12

34

56

78

109

1112

1314

12

34

56

78

109

1112

1314

65

21

87

65

43

21

87

65

43

21

87

43

65

21

87

65

43

21

87

43

12

34

56

78

12

34

56

78

12

34

56

78

12

3 45

6

78

12

43

13

45

12

43

43

21

87

65

87

65

43

21

87

65

43

21

874

3

652

1

56

12

78

34

56

12

78

34

56

12

78

34

56

12

78

34

56

12

78

34

CLASSICAL LOGE AND CHORAL TERRACE SEATING

4

STAGE

EAST WEST

AISLE 4

AISLE 3 AISLE 2

AISLE 1SECTION ASECTION E

SECTION F

DC

BA

C

B

A

C

B

A

DC

BA

C

BA

CB

A

THE MORTON H. MEYERSON SYMPHONY CENTERORCHESTRA TERRACE SEATING

28

29

30

31

32

33

2726

2524

2322

2120

1918

1716

1514

1312

1110

98

76

54

32

1

2726

2524

2322

2120

1918

1716

1514

1312

1110

98

76

54

32

1

28

29

30

31

32

33

28

29

30

31

32

33

2726

2524

2322

2120

1918

1716

1514

1312

1110

98

76

54

32

1

23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2

1

22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2

1

23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2

1

12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

33

32 31

30 29

28 27

2625

2423

2221

2019

1817

1615

1413

1211

109

8

76

54

32

1

33

32 31

30 29

28

33

32 31

30 29

28

2726

2524

2322

2120

1918

1716

1514

1312

1110

9

8

76

54

32

1

2726

2524

2322

2120

1918

1716

1514

1312

1110

9

8

76

54

32

1

LOGE ( LIMI TED AVAIL ABILITY )

PRI CE LEVEL A

PRI CE LEVEL B

PRI CE LEVEL C

PRI CE LEVEL D

PRI CE LEVEL E

CLASSICAL ORCHESTRA TERRACE SEATING

3

AISLE 12

AISLE 14

AISLE 15

AISLE 10

AISLE 9

BOX R

BOX S

BOX T

BOX U

BOX V

BOX E

BOX D

BOX C

BOX B

BOX A

SECTION F

AISLE 11

A

B

C

D

E

55

54

53

52

51

50 49

48 4

7 46 4

5 44 4

3 42 4

1 40 3

9 38 3

7 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

52

51

50

49 4

8 4

7 46 4

5 44 4

3 42 4

1 40 3

9 38 3

7 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

47 46

45 4

4 43 4

2 41

40 39 3

8 37 3

6 35 3

4 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

46 45

44 43 4

2 41 4

0 39 3

8 37 3

6 35 3

4 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

41 40

39 38 3

7 36 3

5 34 33 3

2 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

12

12

34

12

12

12

34

33

44

12

21

34

21

34

21

34

21

34

STAGE

EAST WEST

A

B

C

D

E

THE MORTON H. MEYERSON SYMPHONY CENTERDRESS CIRCLE SEATING


PRI CE LEVEL A

PRI CE LEVEL B

PRI CE LEVEL C

PRI CE LEVEL D

PRI CE LEVEL E

CLASSICAL DRESS C IRCLE , DRESS C IRCLE B OX AND DRESS C IRCLE L OFT SEATING

5

55

54

53

52

51

50

49 48

47 46

45 44 4

3 42 4

1 40 3

9 38 3

7 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

52

51

50 49

48

4

7 46 4

5 44 4

3 42 4

1 40 3

9 38 3

7 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

47 46

45 4

4 43 4

2 41

40 39 3

8 37 3

6 35 3

4 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

46 45

44 43 4

2 41 4

0 39 3

8 37 3

6 35 3

4 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

41 40

39 38 3

7 36 3

5 34 33 3

2 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

44 43

42 41

40 39 3

8 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

43 42

41 40 3

9 38 3

7 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

36 35 3

4 33 3

2 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

37 36 3

5 34 33 3

2 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

43

21

43

21

43

21

43

21

43

21

43

21

43

21

43

21

43

21

43

21

AISLE 18

AISLE 19 AISLE 16

BOX R

BOX S

BOX T

BOX U

BOX V

BOX E

BOX D

BOX C

BOX B

BOX A

SECTION F

AISLE 17

J

H

G

F

E

D

C

B

A

STAGE

EASTWEST

THE MORTON H. MEYERSON SYMPHONY CENTERGRAND TIER SEATINGCLASSICAL GRAN D TIER SEATING

6

EAST WEST

THE MORTON H. MEYERSON SYMPHONY CENTERORCHESTRA SEATING

AISLE 3 AISLE 2

4 3 2 1

2 1

564 3 2 1

756

4 3 2 1

8 756

4 3 2 18 756

4 3 2 18 756

4 3 2 17

564 3 2 1

8 756

4 3 2 18 756

4 3 2 18 756

4 3 2 18 756

4 3 2 18 756

4 3 2 18 756

4 3 2 18 756

4 3 2 18 756

4 3 2 18 756

4 3 2 1

8 75

64

32 1

8 75

64

32 1

8 75

64

32 1

14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 56 4 3 2 1

14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 56 4 3 2 1

14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 56 4 3 2 1

14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 56 4 3 2 1

14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 56 4 3 2 1

14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 56 4 3 2 1

14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 56 4 3 2 1

14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 56 4 3 2 1

14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 56 4 3 2 1

14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 56 4 3 2 1

14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 56 4 3 2 1

14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 56 4 3 2 1

14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 56 4 3 2 1

14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 56 4 3 2 1

14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 56 4 3 2 1

14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 56 4 3 2 1

14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 56 4 3 2 1

14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 56 4 3 2 1

14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 56 4 3 2 1

14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 56 4 3 2 1

14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 56 4 3 2 1

14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 56 4 3 2 1

14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 56 4 3 2 1

14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 56 4 3 2 1

14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 56 4 3 2 1

14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 56 4 3 2 1

14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 56 4 3 2 1

1 2 3 4

1 2

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 81

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

1 2 3 4 5 6

8 75

64

32 1

1 23 4 5

6 7 8

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

SECTION D SECTION B

SECTION C

STAGE

X

W

V

U

T

S

R

Q

P

O

N

M

L

K

J

H

G

F

E

D

C

B

A

DD

CC

BB

AA

X

W

V

U

T

S

R

Q

P

O

N

M

L

K

J

H

G

F

E

D

C

B

A

DD

CC

BB

AA


PRI CE LEVEL A

PRI CE LEVEL B

PRI CE LEVEL C

PRI CE LEVEL D

PRI CE LEVEL E

CLASSICAL ORCHESTRA SEATING

2

organ• It is a 4,535 pipe C.B. Fisk Opus 100 organ, known as the

Lay Family Concert Organ.

• The full length of the front pipes is visible from the audience.

• The conductor cues from a small closed-circuit TV embed-

ded into the organ.

• Immediately below the organ is a unique feature to most

concert halls, the “choral terrace.”

MAterials• Makore African cherry-wood and Mohair wood: resemble

the acoustic signature of a human being when the chair is

empty. Therefore, the sound should remain relatively the

same.

• Russel was against Pei’s choice of carpet as flooring be-

cause a hard surface is required in order to have a have

truly rich, remarkable sound. So the the main area is tiled

in Terrazzo.

• Ceiling (5.5 in): concrete with plaster skim coat.

• Overstage Canopy (6 in):laminated wood (4,000 SF), height

36-50 ft central canopy has 0.06 in layer of felt to suppress

acoustic glare.

•Walls (10.5 in): thin wood veneer 0.5 in particle board

bonded by adhesive and plaster to 10 in masonry.

• Balcony Fronts(2 in): plaster .

• Curtains: one set of single-layer thin fabric and one set of

multi-layer tightly woven heavy velour.

• Floor: terrazzo or painted concrete, no carpet.

• Stage Floor (0.5in): tongue-and-groove wood on wood

boards on joists floor beneath cellos and double basses

has 2 in wood over 3 ft airspace.

• Stage Walls (2 in): 14 ft wood doors that open to exposed

12 ft deep airspace behind instruments.

• Seating: molded plywood back and unperforated plywood

bottom. Upholstered back seat and seat with porous fabric

over polyvinyl foam cushion. Wood armrest.

RevererationOccupied (RT) 2.9s

Unoccupied upholster Seats (EDT) 1.9s

To control reverberation:

• Reverberation chamber: 300,000 cubic foot, U-shaped

space, which surrounds the upper perimeter concert hall.

It is lined with 72 hinged, 4-inch-thick concrete acoustical

doors that can be adjusted to tailor the reverberation de-

cay. If they wish to increase the volume and effect of a pro-

gram, then doors are closed, increasing the reverberation

and echo effects. If more doors are opened, the sound is

further muted.

• Acoustical curtains: system of 62 motor operated, multi-lay-

ered sound absorbing cloth curtains to cover most of the

wall surfaces of the audience and choral seating areas.

They are used to diminish sound vibrations dependent

upon use of the hall.

canopy• Suspended above the stage.

• Raised, lowered, or tilted to reflect the sound throughout

the audience chamber.

• The canopy units are 5 inches thick and constructed of lam-

inated wood securely bonded together and attached to a

steel frame.

• Main canopy: weighs 42 tons and tilts up to 7 degrees, with

a high trim of 74 feet and a low trim of 35 feet.

• Side canopies: weigh 15 tons each and move together in

tandem, with a high trim of 76 feet and a low trim of 37 feet.

• Rear canopy: weighs 12 tons and has a high trim of 73 feet

and a low trim height of 37 feet.

• Result: the initial time delay gap is 21 msec

quotes“The acoustics of this hall are comparable to the great concert

halls of Europe, and of the world. The concert hall itself be-

comes an instrument of the orchestra, and we adjust to it and

fine tune our music-making to the hall week after week.”

Dallas Symphony Orchestra Music Director, Jaap van Zweden

“The Meyerson washes you in sound. I still marvel at the son-

ic sumptuousness, the way the sound can be felt moving in

space. Release one of those big chords in a Bruckner sym-

phony and it disappears into the ceiling with a breathtaking ‘tail’

of reverberation. The effect still sends chills down my back.”

Dallas Morning News Classical Music Critic Scott Cantrell

acoustical features summary

• Materials: mohair and makore African cherry-wood to re-

semble the acoustic signature of a human being.

• Reverberation Chamber: to tailor the reverberation decay.

• Acoustical Curtains: to diminish sound vibrations depen-

dent upon use of the hall.

• Canopy system: to reflect the sound throughout the audi-

ence chamber.

• Antechambers: to provide sound locks at all entrances to

the concert hall.

The M. Meyerson Symphony Center is worldwide known not

only for its particular shape, that is the result of a combination

of overlapping geometric forms, but also for the acoustical

design of its symphony hall, that combines the best charac-

teristics of a traditional hall with more modern features. What

makes the Eugene McDermott Concert Hall one of the top

ranked symphony halls are the use of a reverberation chamber

and of a system of acoustical curtains to manage the sound

reverberation, combined with a canopy system that reflects

the sound throughout the audience chamber. These features

enhance the sound of certain compositions and add a musi-

cal dimension to all musical pieces obtaining an effect never

heard in any other hall in this country.

Web Sources

• https://d15gc4eof6ew0j.cloudfront.net/res/seat%20maps/meyerson1516seatingchart(1).pdf

• http://www.thedallasartsdistrict.org/district/art-in-architecture/architecture

• http://idreamofarchitecture.blogspot.com/2009/07/photos-meyerson-symphony-center-part-13.html

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morton_H._Meyerson_Symphony_Center

• http://www.dallasculture.org/meyersonSymphonyCenter/aboutBuilding.asp

• http://www.pcf-p.com/a/p/8103/s.html

• http://www.dallasculture.org/meyersonSymphonyCenter/aboutConcertHall.asp

• http://www.dallasculture.org/meyersonSymphonyCenter/aboutConcertHall.asp

• http://www.dallasnews.com/entertainment/headlines/20140906-meyerson-at-25-cutting-edge-in-1989-is-dallas-premier-concert-hall-

still-in-the-forefront.ece

Bibliography

• Beranek, Leo. How They Sound Concert and Opera Halls. Woodbury (NY): Acoustical Society of America, 1996

Sources

Morton Myerson Symphony Center by I. M. Pei

Art & Photos

Transcript of Morton Myerson Symphony Center by I. M. Pei