In September 2006, the Orange County Performing Arts Center will inaugurate its beautiful new 2,000-seat Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 500-seat multi-use Samueli Theater and an education center. These new venues and resources, along with South Coast Repertory and, eventually, an independent visual arts facility, will be known as Segerstrom Center for the Arts. This will be united to the existing Orange County Performing Arts Center, with its 3,000-seat Segerstrom Hall and 500-seat Founders Hall, by an outdoor plaza, becoming one of the nations largest and most versatile complexes in the nation dedicated to the arts. The Center will be poised to meet the needs of this prosperous and growing region of the country, continue to offer the world’s greatest artists and performing arts companies and provide an ideal home to the region’s important arts organizations.
“Building on the Vision” is The Center’s capital campaign that is funding the $200 million expansion project. The magnificent new structure has been designed by internationally respected architect Cesar Pelli in concert with one of the world’s foremost acousticians, Russell Johnson of Artec. The plaza is the unifying vision of Peter Walker & Partners, and will incorporate a major work of art commissioned by the renowned Richard Serra.
An amazing 6-week festival of great artists, world premieres and breathtaking galas will help to open the new halls and, not coincidentally, celebrate The Center’s 20th Anniversary. Please explore our expansion web pages and enjoy the many images, renderings and information – and share with The Center the enthusiasm and eagerness for the opening of this important cultural landmark.