Instead of star architects, the six firms chosen as finalists to oversee a $90 million overhaul of Boettcher Concert Hall are dependable firms headquartered in Canada and the United States with experience working on similar facilities.
“We were more focused on firms that have successfully renovated or built symphony halls than firms that have famous names, although in this group of six there are certainly some famous names,” said Jack Finlaw, director of Denver’s Division of Theatres & Arenas.
A 22-member selection committee, including city officials, community leaders and 10 Colorado Symphony trustees, picked the firms from among 14 that expressed interest in the project.
Representatives of the firms will give public presentations and meet with the committee June 26 and 27.
Finlaw said he expects an architect to be announced during the week of June 30. The City Council must approve the contract with that firm.
Work on Boettcher got the green light in November, when voters endorsed $60 million for the project as part of bond issues 1G and 1H. The symphony, Boettcher’s main tenant, has pledged to raise an additional $30 million in private funding.
Construction could begin in spring 2010.
Finalists’ projects
The six finalists, along with some of the projects they are noted for designing:
• David M. Schwarz/Architectural Services, Washington, D.C. Bass Performance Hall, Fort Worth, Texas; Schermerhorn Symphony Center, Nashville, Tenn.
• Diamond and Schmitt Architects, Toronto, Ontario. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto; restoration and expansion, Symphony Orchestra Hall, Detroit.
• Grimshaw, New York City. Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, N.Y.; Queens Museum of Art, New York.
• LMN Architects, Seattle. Benaroya Hall, Seattle; Cannon Center for the Performing Arts, Memphis, Tenn.
• Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, Chicago. Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco; renovation and expansion, Chicago Symphony Center.
• Zeidler Partnership, West Palm Beach, Fla. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, Palm Beach County, Fla.; Toronto Centre for the Arts.
Kyle MacMillan: 303-954-1675 or kmacmillan@denverpost.com
