Who designs concert halls?

Answer 1

Architects are the primary designers of concert halls. They lead a team of experts who advise on the unique design challenges associated with concert halls, including but not limited to structure, rigging, safety, comfort, and acoustics. The functional requirements of a concert hall are not isolated design problems and therefore need to be fully integrated into the design process. For instance, decisions about room geometry and materials heavily influence both structure and acoustics. Cooperation of specialties, including involvement of clients and resident orchestras, is of critical importance.

Very few people have careers strictly centered on the design of concert halls. Architects work on a wide variety of project types and most never work on a single hall, though there are a few who are known as designers for performing arts spaces. Consultants in acoustics and theater often work on many concert hall projects, but the scope of their design contribution is limited to their specialty. People interested in careers involving concert hall design can approach from many directions, including architecture, engineering, physics, music, and audio. Graduate degrees that focus on architectural acoustics are increasingly common, but at this time are still the exception.