Walt Disney Concert Hall

The Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles, California is the fourth hall of the Los Angeles Music Center. Bounded by Hope Street, Grand Avenue, 1st and 2nd Streets, it seats 2,265 people and serves (among other purposes) as the home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra and the Los Angeles Master Chorale.

Construction

The project was launched in 1987, when Lillian Disney, widow of Walt Disney, donated $50 million. Gehry delivered completed designs in 1991. Construction of the underground parking garage began in 1992 and was completed in 1996. The garage cost has been variously estimated between $90 million to $110 million, and was paid for by Los Angeles County, which sold bonds to provide the garage under the site of the planned hall.

Related Topics:
1987 - Lillian Disney - Walt Disney - Los Angeles County - Bond

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However, construction of the concert hall itself stalled from 1994 to 1996 due to cost overruns, mismanagement and disagreements over the project's design. Eli Broad and then-mayor Richard Riordan restarted the fundraising efforts in late 1996, and groundbreaking for the hall was held in December 1999.

Related Topics:
Eli Broad - Mayor - Richard Riordan

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Upon completion in 2003, the project had cost an estimated $274 million, including the parking garage. The remainder of the total cost was paid by private donations, of which the Disney family's contribution was estimated to $84.5 million with another $25 million from The Walt Disney Company. By comparison, the three existing halls of the Music Center cost $35 million in the 1960s.

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