Orchestra Hall’s Iconic Cubes to Become Climbing Wall

Orchestra Hall’s new climbing wall will open later this spring

New in-cube seating will also be offered at select concerts

The Minnesota Orchestra announced today its intention to transform the most iconic feature of Orchestra Hall—the massive cubes that adorn the back wall and ceiling of the Lindahl Auditorium—into a publicly accessible climbing wall on non-concert days, paired with a related initiative to offer special in-cube seating at select Orchestra performances.

Once open, “The Wall at The Hall” will offer three separate paths of increasing difficulty—the “Tremolo,” “Arpeggio” and “Octavo” climbing routes—while a special fourth feature comes in the form of “The Glissando,” a 115-foot zipline spanning from the back of Balcony C to a safe landing zone at the photographer’s box on the side of Balcony A.

The climbing wall is one of the Orchestra’s first major new initiatives under the administrative leadership of President and CEO Isaac Thompson, who last fall spent several days perusing the Orchestra’s archives at the University of Minnesota and uncovered transcripts of former Music Director Stanislaw Skrowaczewski’s conversations with Orchestra Hall architect Hugh Hardy and acoustical engineer Cyril Harris in 1973, in which Skrowaczewski, an avid mountain climber, agreed to the idea of acoustical cubes for the new Hall under the condition that they also be climbable.

In a press conference announcing the climbing wall, Thompson invoked the words of famed French highwire artist Philippe Petit. “Philippe once said, ‘If I see two oranges, I juggle. If I see two towers, I walk.’ So now when we see a whole bunch of cubes in front of us, we must climb,” Thompson quipped, adding that he believes Skrowaczewski would want us all to “think outside the box…er, the cube.”

The Climbing Business Journal estimates there are over 800 climbing gyms currently operating across North America, but confirmed there has yet to be one built inside the home of a major symphony orchestra. “The walls of most concert halls—and frankly, walls in general—are usually flat, rendering them difficult to climb,” remarked the Journal’s executive editor, Justin Jest. “The cubes at Orchestra Hall really provided the perfect terrain for this unique partnership.”

As the climbing wall project unfolded, many of the Orchestra’s musicians and staff members pondered what other opportunities could give Twin Cities residents the opportunity to truly connect with Orchestra Hall’s famous cubes—given that the climbing community is only a small segment of the population. Thanks to their feedback, the Orchestra’s Board of Directors also approved a second initiative: a measure to build additional seating inside the cubes themselves. As a result, 34 new seats will be added to 11 hollowed-out cubes on the back wall: two apiece in the nine smaller cubes and eight each in the large corner cubes, organized in two rows of four. The additions are set to be completed over Memorial Day weekend, in time to allow audiences to experience 2026 Summer at Orchestra Hall concerts from all angles.

“The timing for this new premium seating option could not be better,” commented David Sailer-Haugland, the Orchestra’s Vice President of Marketing and Guest Relations. “The incredible demand for last month’s sold-out concert with Yo-Yo Ma prompted members of the organization to look at each other and ponder, ‘How are we ever going to keep up with our fans?’ And the answer was right in front of—and above—us all along.” 

A supplement to the Orchestra’s 2026–27 season brochure will be delivered to subscribers’ mailboxes today, Wednesday, April 1, announcing special climbing and in-cube seating combo packages, with a tagline of “Scale Your Dreams.” The entry-level “Minor Scale” package offers an hour of climbing for up to four individuals, whereas the all-inclusive “Major Scale” package includes two hours of climbing on a Saturday afternoon, followed by in-cube seats to a Saturday evening classical concert. 

In-cube seating will become available in phases, starting with select concerts in the summer and fall and opening up to all concerts beginning October 30 and 31—when the Orchestra plays Bernard Herrmann’s score to the 1958 film Vertigo. Audience members will be required to sign a liability waiver and provide a doctor’s note affirming they are not afraid of heights.

The addition of cube seating is sure to provide a fresh new landscape for concertgoers in 2026, though Thompson felt they might not even stop there. “Don’t tell me the sky’s the limit when there are footprints on the moon,” he added, quoting a popular phrase coined by singer Paul Brandt. “We’ve already been talking about expanding into the ceiling cubes. How many professional orchestras can say their audiences literally float above the music? The possibilities are endless.”

Click here to pre-apply for cube-climbing and cube seating today and enter code APRIL1CUBES for 20% off today only—Wednesday, April 1!