Walt Disney Concert Hall

The Walt Disney Concert Hall announces itself with a massive exterior of curving, stainless steel sails that ripple across a full block of Grand Avenue. Designed by Frank Gehry, the structure is wrapped in more than 6,000 reflective panels, and its appearance shifts constantly with the changing downtown light. Many people simply walk the building’s perimeter to see the architecture from all angles, and a public rooftop garden offers a quiet, green space tucked among the metallic curves. Walk inside and you’ll find a lobby conceived as a “living room for the city,” with large columns clad in Douglas fir. This extensive use of wood continues into the main auditorium, a 2,265-seat hall where the acoustics were the primary design focus. The seating is arranged in a terraced, vineyard style that wraps around the stage, creating a surprisingly intimate connection to the performers. Vertical grain Douglas fir lines the walls, the flooring is red oak, and a large rear window and skylights allow natural light to fill the space during daytime events. At the front of the hall, a massive pipe organ dominates the stage, its dramatic external pipes often nicknamed "French Fries." This is the home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Los Angeles Master Chorale, and the room's acoustics – designed in collaboration with Yasuhisa Toyota – provide a remarkable clarity of sound. For those without a performance ticket, self-guided audio tours are a common way to explore the building’s architecture and interior spaces. An underground parking garage sits directly beneath the structure.