The renovation and expansion of Orchestra Hall is a $50 million project.  Support for this project has been provided by individuals, foundations and corporations along with bonding from the state of Minnesota. When you play your part and donate to the Orchestra you become a principle player in the musical heritage and culture for the state of Minnesota. We are grateful for gifts of any size.

The Building for the Future campaign is a comprehensive fundraising project that will not only fund the renovation of Orchestra Hall but many programs and initiatives as well as the Orchestra's financial sustainability. Building for the Future is about achieving an optimal balance between artistic quality and financial sustainability to maintain a world-class orchestra that is innovative and able to respond to the community's changing needs with exciting initiatives.

An orchestra isn’t built on musicians alone. The Minnesota Orchestra’s Board of Directors has set a goal for the campaign of $110 million, including $50 million for the renovation and expansion of Orchestra Hall, $30 million for artistic and education initiatives and $30 million to increase our endowment.

No.  Although the Minnesota Orchestral Association has received Legacy Amendment funding for programming through the Minnesota State Arts Board, the Arts Board does not allow Legacy Amendment funds to be used for capital projects such as the renovation of Orchestra Hall.

The Orchestra has engaged the award-winning Toronto firm Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects (KPMB) to design the renovation and expansion.  KPMB is an ideal choice for the project as the firm is known both for its expertise with renovation projects and performing arts venues.

Bruce Kuwabara
Principal, Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg (KPMB)
Design Partner, Orchestra Hall Project

Envisioning Our Cities' Futures:  "This project is about the future. It's not just a renovation of the Hall, but an investment in the future of the city."

The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada honored Bruce Kuwabara with its highest national honor given to an individual architect—the Gold Medal—in 2006.

Among his many credits are SugarCube, a development in Denver's historic downtown, Le Quartier Concordia for Concordia University and the Gardiner Museum, which received both the 2008 Royal Institute of British Architects International Award and the Chicago Athenaeum Award. His design for the Canadian Embassy in Berlin emerged from a national competition and is distinguished as the only embassy in the city with a publicly inviting and accessible street base.

Kuwabara, who has taught at the University of Toronto and Harvard University, is considered an authority on urban planning. He speaks frequently on city building and concepts of architecture driven by social aesthetics.

Marianne McKenna
Principal, Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg (KPMB)
Partner-In-Charge, Orchestra Hall Project

Combining Culture with Functional and Inspiring Architecture:  "We think it's as much about connecting Orchestra Hall to the city as it is about city building."

Montreal native Marianne McKenna has focused on concert hall architecture for 20 years, beginning with her work on Toronto's Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) in 1986. She produced not only the award-winning master plan, but also an updated plan in 2003.  It's been hailed as "the last jewel in the crown of Toronto's Cultural Renaissance."

McKenna partnered with Bruce Kuwabara on several award-winning design competitions including those for Kitchener City Hall and Montreal's Le Quartier Concordia. Her internationally acclaimed projects include Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake, which was chosen to represent Canada at the 2002 Green Building Challenge in Oslo, Norway.

McKenna has taught at McGill University and the University of Toronto. She has also lectured and served as guest critic at Yale, L'Université de Montréal, Dalhousie, Carleton and McGill Universities.

The Orchestra Hall renovation will create approximately 900 jobs.  Already, we've engaged a local project manager, general contractor, and structural and mechanical engineers.

Nelson, Tietz & Hoye, Project Manager
The Minnesota-based firm began their work with the Minnesota Orchestral Association in September 2008, and will manage the Orchestra Hall redevelopment process through completion.  With more than 20 years of experience in the Twin Cities, Nelson, Tietz & Hoye is known for its real estate experience as well as project management expertise.  Previous clients include law firms, healthcare corporations, financial institutions and nonprofit organizations, including the MacPhail Center for Music, Minneapolis Public Library and Minnesota Public Radio.

Mortenson Construction, General Contractor
Mortenson Construction, established in 1954, is Minnesota's largest construction organization.  The firm has six offices across the nation and serves a diverse range of customers including corporate, non-profit, education, healthcare, sports, hospitality, civic, renewable energy, and federal government.  They have built signature facilities across the nation including Walt Disney Concert Hall, Denver Art Museum, Denver Center for Performing Arts, and Harley Davidson Museum as well as Twin Cities landmarks including MacPhail Center for Music, Walker Art Center, Minneapolis Convention Center, Minnesota Public Radio and the Minneapolis Central Library. The Minneapolis-based company will initially provide pre-construction design services and assume the role of general contractor once the design phase of the project is complete.

Meyer, Borgman and Johnson, Structural Engineering Consultants
Founded in 1955, Minnesota-based Meyer, Borgman and Johnson is committed to providing the highest level of structural engineering services.  They have served as consultants on numerous arts building projects, including MacPhail Center For Music, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Children's Theatre, The Museum of Russian Art, Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum, Minnetonka Center for the Arts, and the University of Minnesota's Regis Center for Art.

Dunham – Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing Engineering Consultants
Dunham is a Minnesota firm that has built a national reputation for providing quality mechanical and electrical engineering consulting services.  Founded in 1960, Dunham's expertise includes HVAC, plumbing, fire protection and power distribution systems.  Their mechanical engineers develop cost-effective and energy-efficient designs that help our clients meet their facility goals and project budgets, while being easily maintained over the life of the facility.

We plan to begin elements of construction in June 2012, and the new Orchestra Hall will be ready for a grand re-opening during the Orchestra's 2013-14 season.

KPMB has been recognized for their work in creating environmentally sustainable buildings.  We anticipate that this renovation will lower overall energy usage in Orchestra Hall, due to the significant technological advances in this area since the 1970s.

During the 2012-13 season the Minnesota Orchestra will be performing in the Minneapolis Convention Center, only blocks away from Orchestra Hall.

Absolutely—in fact, 2012 marks the 101st year of our flagship Young People's Concerts and we are preparing a special season of performances for students.  We'll continue offering our U.S. Bank Pops, Inside the Classics, Piper Jaffray Jazz, special presentations and holiday programs too.

Sound Space Design will serve as acoustical consultant for the expansion and renovation of Orchestra Hall. The acoustical team, led by Robert Essert, will be responsible for ensuring that Orchestra Hall's current fine acoustics are preserved throughout the renovation, for making onstage acoustical modifications and for advising on lobby acoustics.

Sound Space Design, founded by Robert Essert in 2002, has designed acoustics for performing arts venues across the world, including the newly-opened Winspear Opera House in Dallas, Toronto's Koerner Hall and London's Menuhin Hall. Robert Essert previously served as deputy chairman at Artec Consultants, where he co-designed the acoustics of the Culture and Congress Centre in Lucerne, Switzerland and collaborated on the acoustical renovation of Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto. Sound Space Design is based in London.

Sound Space Design will work with KPMB Architects to select materials and finishes in the auditorium, as well as lobby spaces, that support the acoustics. Sound Space Design will also implement some onstage acoustical alterations in order to make it easier for musicians to hear each other onstage.

Additionally, Sound Space Design will collaborate with Engineering Harmonics to install a state-of-the-art performance sound system to enhance amplified performances at Orchestra Hall, typically those offered for the Orchestra's pops concerts and presentations.

CAMPAIGN CHAIR
Ronald E. Lund

HONORARY CHAIRS
Winston Wallin*
Osmo Vänskä

CAMPAIGN VICE CHAIRS
Karen Baker
Nicky B. Carpenter
Richard K. Davis
Luella G. Goldberg
Paul D. Grangaard
Michael Henson
Jayne Hilde
Douglas W. Leatherdale
Nancy E. Lindahl
Richard Marshall
Gordon M. Sprenger

CAMPAIGN DEVELOPMENT STAFF
Director of Development and Individual Giving - Heidi Droegemueller
Director of Development and Institutional Giving - Heather Miller-Shiell
Campaign Manager - Jessica Rau