Renovating Severance Hall (1991- 2000)
Severance Hall, home of The Cleveland Orchestra, opened in 1931. It was restored and renovated for the new century in 2000, ushering in a new era of concerts
Formal portrait (1998) by Roger MastrioanniThe Cleveland Orchestra
The Cleveland Orchestra with Christoph von Dohnányi in 1998
This renovation of the hall had major goals: update the stage, bring the organ back into use, restore all historic features, create more patron spaces, and construct an office building for the growing staff.
Organ pipe (1997/1997) by Roger MastrioanniThe Cleveland Orchestra
Removing organ pipes
The Severance renovation kicked off in 1997 with the removal of the Norton Memorial organ pipes. A hole was cut in the back of the building ,and the pipes were lowered down to street level where they were taken to the Schantz Organ Company in Orrville, Ohio for restoration.
Driveway (1998/1998) by Roger MastrioanniThe Cleveland Orchestra
Driveway Demolition
Originally a motor driveway, this area was converted to a restaurant in the 1970s. It was stripped down to the bones for a fresh new look, also providing a lobby complete with replicas of original lighting and a terrazzo floor to emulate the Grand Foyer.
Future Lobby (1998/1998) by Roger MastrioanniThe Cleveland Orchestra
New Lobby Area
These columns used to hold aluminum doors that led to the motor driveway. All the doors, windows, and frames were reused in the surrounding hallways, new restaurant, and galleries to help the new spaces harmonize with the old.
Smith Floor (1999/1999) by Roger MastrioanniThe Cleveland Orchestra
Laying the Floor
The floor is being prepped for a marble terrazzo floor that will mirror the floor directly above in the Grand Foyer – with three lotus blossoms across the main space.
Finished Smith Lobby (2000/2000) by Hedrich BlessingThe Cleveland Orchestra
Smith Lobby
The finished lobby echoes the original elements of the building with the use of aluminum throughout and terrazzo floors in the same color scheme. Much of the marble was sourced from the same quarries used in the 1930s during original construction.
Grand Foyer (1999/1999) by Roger MastrioanniThe Cleveland Orchestra
Grand Foyer
Scaffolding surrounds the murals and stairs in the Grand Foyer as each space is restored to its original beauty. Professional restoration of the murals was done by Evergreen Studios of New York.
Grand Foyer Ceiling (1999/1999) by Roger MastrioanniThe Cleveland Orchestra
Detail Work
Restoration of the Grand Foyer ceiling in progress.
Gold leafing (1999/1999) by Roger MastrioanniThe Cleveland Orchestra
Gold Restoration
The twenty-four red jasper marble columns in the Grand Foyer are all capped in gold leaf. The gold leaf was restored one layer at a time during restoration.
Grand Foyer (2021/2021) by Roger MastrioanniThe Cleveland Orchestra
Bogomolny-Kozerefski Grand Foyer
Restored to its original 1931 splendor, the Grand Foyer is the front entrance to Severance from Euclid Avenue. Designed in the Egyptian Revival style, it remains a gathering space before and after concerts. The murals are hand painted by Elsa Vick Shaw.
Beginning the addition (1998/1998) by Roger MastrioanniThe Cleveland Orchestra
New Offices
One of the main goals of the renovation was to build more office space. A five-story office building was added to the back of Severance to accommodate more staff.
Addition (1999/1999) by Roger MastrioanniThe Cleveland Orchestra
Nearing Completion
The new office building nears completion. The facade matches the original sandstone on the rest of the structure.
Old Stage (1999/1999) by Roger MastrioanniThe Cleveland Orchestra
Goodbye Szell Shell
Built in 1958, the Dutch modern maple stage shell refined the Orchestra's sound and brought the Orchestra to new heights of fame. However, it did not match the rest of the hall, and it rendered the organ unplayable. Removing this shell was a major part of the renovation.
Stage shell removed (1999/1999) by Roger MastrioanniThe Cleveland Orchestra
Stage deconstruction
Acoustics were partially managed with sand behind the shell walls. As the shell walls were taken down, the sand had to be removed as well.
Seat removal (1999/1999) by Roger MastrioanniThe Cleveland Orchestra
Seat removal
Seating in the main floor of the concert hall was removed, and tiles were scraped off, then replaced.
Ceiling repair (1999/1999) by Roger MastrioanniThe Cleveland Orchestra
Repainting the Iconic Ceiling
The concert hall ceiling is made of suspended plaster with aluminum leaf throughout the lotus designs. All portions were painstakingly restored and re-leafed during the renovation.
Aluminum leafing (1999/1999) by Roger MastrioanniThe Cleveland Orchestra
Ceiling Restoration
The lotus flower designs on the ceiling are inspired by the wedding dress of Mrs. Elisabeth Severance, for whom the building is dedicated.
Proscenium (1999/1999) by Roger MastrioanniThe Cleveland Orchestra
Proscenium
The proscenium was covered in plaster during the acoustical renovation of 1958. In this renovation, it was uncovered and restored to its original grandeur. Eighty percent of the plaster was in good condition and did not need to be re-plastered.
Stage pillows (1999/1999) by Roger MastrioanniThe Cleveland Orchestra
Acoustic Pillows
Twenty-five fiberglass-reinforced polymer acoustic pillows were installed above the new stage. They are designed to enhance onstage sound quality.
Stage construction (1999/1999) by Roger MastrioanniThe Cleveland Orchestra
Stage Installation
After the acoustic pillows were installed, the rest of the stage shell followed. During this time, the Orchestra performed at the Allen Theater in downtown Cleveland.
Finished stage (2000/2000) by Roger MastrioanniThe Cleveland Orchestra
Mandel Concert Hall
Reopened in January 2000, the newly refurbished hall was an acoustical success and beautifully evokes the original. After a transformational $50 million grant, the space was renamed the Jack, Joseph and Morten Mandel Concert Hall at Severance Music Center in 2021.
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