MUSIC HALL

Completed Project

Built in 1878, this classic entertainment venue is considered one of the best and most beautiful concert theaters in the world, and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1975. Music Hall originally served the city as its first convention center.

For decades, this historic, iconic home to Cincinnati’s renowned performing arts organizations was surrounded by blight and was itself in need of significant functional upgrades. Cincinnati, the building’s tenants and patrons, and the residents of the surrounding low-income neighborhood long recognized its ability to create jobs and provide cultural enrichment to the community. 3CDC partnered with the City of Cincinnati to complete the necessary renovations to the 256,500-square-foot facility, ultimately expanding Music Hall’s programming capacity and its ability to engage with the surrounding community.

In October 2017, the project was completed and Music Hall was officially reopened to the public.

Interested in learning how the project came together? Click here to see all project updates!

Construction Photos

Essential Facts

  • Developer
    3CDC
  • Project Cost
    $143 Million (estimate)
  • Uses
    Theater & Event Space
  • Completion Date
    October 2017
  • Commercial SF
    256,500
  • Miscellaneous Details
    Owner: City of Cincinnati
    Lessee: Music Hall Revitalization Company
    Resident Companies & Stakeholders: Cincinnati Arts Association, Society for the Preservation of Music Hall, Cincinnati Symphony/Pops, Cincinnati Opera, Cincinnati Ballet, May Festival
    Frequently Asked Questions

Location

1241 ELM STREET

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Monthly Updates

Music Hall officially reopened its doors to the public on Oct. 6, celebrating the completion of its $143 million renovation. To look back on this amazing journey, check out the Project Update Archive.
Crews are putting the finishing touches on numerous areas throughout Music Hall, in preparation for its big reveal next week. Drywall hanging is complete and carpet installation is now underway in Corbett Tower. The orchestra risers in Springer Auditorium are being stained, as well as the plywood for the orchestra pit. The marble flooring in the Main Lobby is being cleaned, and flooring in the lounge has been completely installed. New sidewalks have been poured outside the Hall, as well as a lane to accommodate limousines. To look back on this amazing journey, check out the Project Update Archive.
Both inside and outside the Hall, crews have made exceptional progress over the past month. In the Side Circulation Areas, the old entry doors have been stained, and glass railings have been installed for the escalator and stairs. In Springer Auditorium, the finished stage floor has been completely installed, in addition to sound clouds overhead. Carpet installation and plaster repair work continue in the Main Lobby, but are nearing completion. Lastly, crews finished laying pavers outside the main entrance to the building, where the storefront has also been installed. For additional details, subscribe to regular project updates, and refer to the archive for past updates.
Despite the heat and humidity, crew have continued to make exceptional progress both inside and outside the Hall. Both the CAA and CSO offices are nearing completion. A variety of work is ongoing in the Main Lobby, where the floors have been completely demolished to make way for the new bars located in the North and South Circulation Areas. Final paint is complete on the Main Lobby ceiling, and vestibule drywall work is underway. Various work on the stage inside Springer Auditorium continues, in addition to carpet and light fixture installation. Lastly, plaster work has begun on the walls in Corbett Tower. For additional details, subscribe to regular project updates, and refer to the archive for past updates.
Crews continue to work at a steady pace, making great progress throughout the Hall. This past month, the stage floor in Springer Auditorium was demolished, and plywood for the pit at the front of the stage was installed. In addition, various light fixtures were hung and the chandelier was re-installed. Meanwhile, paint and plaster work is ongoing in the Main Lobby, as construction of the spotlight room and stenciling of the ceiling have resumed in Corbett Tower. On the building’s exterior, brick staining is now complete on the Elm Street façade. Concrete pours for the sidewalks are underway. For additional details, subscribe to regular project updates, and refer to the archive for past updates.
Significant progress has been made on both the interior and exterior of Music Hall. Crews have been hard at work on the building’s façade, with brick staining and stone repair as a focal point. Inside, various restrooms have received fixtures, accessories and partitions, and both the CSO and CAA offices are nearing completion. Work also remains largely focused on Springer Auditorium, as crews continue installing plywood and finished hardwood flooring on various levels. On the gallery level specifically, crews recently finished repainting the crown molding and have moved on to the installation of railings. For additional details, subscribe to regular project updates, and refer to the archive for past updates.
Crews continue to make significant progress throughout the hall with each passing week. In Springer Auditorium, the drywall ceilings on the orchestra level are being finished, and the acoustical walls at the back of the balcony have been hung and finished, in addition to receiving a first coat of paint. Various painting has begun elsewhere in the building, as well. Repairs to the molding at the bottom of the ceiling cove in Corbett Tower were also completed. For additional details, subscribeto regular project updates, and refer to the archive for past updates.
Over the course of the month, crews have continued to make exciting progress both inside and outside the hall. Inside, the new escalators have been completely installed, the risers have been poured in Springer Auditorium, and cove restoration work continues in Corbett Tower. Outside, masonry restoration work, including brick repair and stone cleaning, has officially begun. For additional details, subscribe to regular project updates, and refer to the archive for past updates.
With each passing week, steady progress is being made inside the Hall. Most recently, a good amount of work has been focused on Springer Auditorium, as crews have worked to clean and restore the main mural. Plaster work and cove restoration have also begun on the ceiling in Corbett Tower, as other work continues in various locations throughout the building. For additional details, subscribe to regular project updates to learn more, and refer to the archive for past updates.
Music Hall’s renovation is moving forward at a good pace. Work has remained largely focused on Springer Auditorium but crews are hard at work in all areas of the historic building. For additional details, subscribe to regular project updates to learn more, and refer to the archive for past updates.
The renovation of Music Hall continues to make significant progress. A good amount of work has remained focused on Springer Auditorium and new CSO offices but crews are still hard at work throughout the entire building. Subscribe to regular project updates to learn more, and refer to the archive for past updates.
The renovation of Music Hall has continued steadily over the past month. Much of the work has remained focused on the Springer Auditorium but crews are still hard at work throughout the entire building. Subscribe to regular project updates to learn more, and refer to the archive for past updates.
The renovation of Music Hall continued at a steady pace last month, with much of the work focused on Springer Auditorium. Crews are still hard at work throughout the entire historic structure. Subscribe to regular project updates to learn more, and refer to the archive for old issues.
The renovation of Music Hall is progressing nicely, with crews working throughout the historic structure. Although much of the work has been focused on Springer Auditorium, nearly every area of the hall either has been, or will be, touched. For specifics about the construction work being done, sign up to receive regular project updates, or refer to the archive for previous newsletters.
Crews have stayed hard at work on the renovation of Music Hall this past month, as they continue to make changes and improvements to every area of the hallowed hall. Read our weekly project updates to learn more about the specific work taking place, and subscribe to receive the updates directly in your Inbox each Friday.
There have been no signs of slowing down on the Music Hall renovation over the course of the last month. For specific details on the work that has been completed, as well as a look at what’s happening next week, read our weekly construction updates on the project, and subscribe to weekly Friday updates.
Construction on Music Hall has continued at a rapid pace over the course of the last month. For a comprehensive look at the work that has been completed, as well as what is coming up next week, read our weekly construction updates on the project, and subscribe to weekly Friday updates.
Music Hall officially shut down for construction late last month. For an extensive look at the work that’s already been done to the historic hall, as well as what is scheduled to take place this week, read the first weekly construction update on the project. To stay up-to-date on construction activities, subscribe to weekly updates, which will be distributed every Friday.
Crews have continued working throughout Music Hall in preparation for its June 1 closing date. In the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) office, the concrete mezzanine and cast-in-place concrete stairs have been poured and cured, and the installing of mechanical, electrical and plumbing is underway. In the south carriageway, the repair of underground plumbing has been completed and the excavation and formation of future structure footer has started. Meanwhile, in the north carriageway, the concrete structural footers have been completed. Both asbestos remediation and reinforcement of the mezzanine are ongoing in the paint shop, and asbestos remediation is nearly complete in the basement. In addition, the resident companies continue to move out equipment, stored materials, etc., in an effort to have everything out by the end of May.
Although Music Hall is still open for performances until May 2016, crews are actively at work in various areas throughout the building. Crews are currently pouring concrete for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) Office mezzanine, as well as completing in-slab rough-ins. In addition, structural footings are being excavated in the north and south carriageways. Crews are simultaneously doing underground work for plumbing in the south carriageway. Meanwhile, in the paint shop, steel columns are being reinforced for the new rehearsal room above, and asbestos removal is ongoing in the basement.
Plenty of work is currently underway at Music Hall, which will remain open for performances until May 2016. Demolition in the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO)’s office space is substantially complete, allowing crews to begin on under-slab mechanical, engineering and plumbing work in the space. Structural footers for the mezzanine in the new CSO offices are currently being dug in, a process that is expected to last a few weeks. Elsewhere in the building, new passenger elevator pits are being dug in and abatement has continued in the basement and paint shop.
Although Music Hall will be open for performances until May 2016, work in various areas of the building is already underway. In the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s office space, asbestos abatement has been completed and demolition has started. Abatement is currently ongoing in the paint shop and basement. Elsewhere in the building, temporary restrooms are being constructed in the north- and south-side circulations, to supplement the restrooms lost due to construction activities. In addition, exploratory demolition in specific areas around the hall is sporadically taking place, to help inform construction and design. And, soil reinforcement is ongoing in both the north and south carriageways, to provide structure for the future home of new restrooms and mechanical spaces.