Colorado Symphony CEO and Board co-chair Jerome H. Kern presented a $40 million proposal, during a press conference last week at Boettcher Concert Hall, for a repurposed, renovated concert hall. The plan envisions a modernized and upgraded building that allows for greater flexibility in programming and addresses critical issues of sound and structure.
Joined on stage by members of the Colorado Symphony as well Denver business and cultural leaders, including Gil Boggs of the Colorado Ballet and Opera Colorado’s Greg Carpenter, Kern said the Colorado Symphony is ready to engage with the public as well as the City of Denver in a dialogue about the future of Boettcher Concert Hall.
“A great symphony like a great sports team needs a great field to play on,” Kern said. “Boettcher Concert Hall has been the Colorado Symphony’s home since it was built, and we’re optimistic that this plan allows us to move into the future, so that it can remain the orchestra’s home for another 35 years, at least.”
The plan was developed by Semple Brown Architects, led by principal Chris Wineman. Semple Brown is noted for its work with performing arts venue including the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, renovation of the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex lobby, the headquarters of the Colorado Ballet, the RedLine Art Center, Pueblo Memorial Hall, the Kenneth King Center, the Denver School of the Arts and Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre.
“The cubic volume of the hall needs to be reduced, the reflective surfaces closest to the musicians need to be larger in scale, the stage enclosure needs to be tighter and the hall needs flexibility in seat count and seat format to help the CSO support a broader range of music types and performers,” Wineman said.
Semple Brown’s design concept adds seats close to the stage and reduces seating farther from the stage, while maintaining Boettcher’s distinctive intimacy and embrace of the musicians. It allows the CSO to customize the seating capacity quickly and easily to match its programming.
Projected costs of construction: $40 million (source: Haselden Construction): Includes renovation of HVAC system and deferred maintenance. Does not include costs such as design fees and city management fees.
Possible funding sources: $20-25 million remaining from voter-approved bond initiative passed in 2007 and Denver mini-bonds issued in 2014, and an additional $15-20 million in city investment, Colorado Symphony donors, corporate sponsors, public/private partnerships, naming rights.
To see the plan of a Better Boettcher, visit www.coloradosymphony.org/Better-Boettcher.
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