By the early 1990’s, this 31-year-old Auditorium was in need of renovation and the redefinition of its public image. The city wanted to turn the facility into a state-of-the-art multiple-venue regional performing arts center, with the addition of a new concert hall as well as the internal reconstruction of the existing proscenium theater and studio theaters.

The project involved the remodeling of over 184,700 s.f. and the construction of 58,300 s.f. of new space. The renovated proscenium theater, now called the Moran Theater, is a 3,000-seat multipurpose hall with improved room acoustics and sophisticated performance equipment to accommodate major touring productions, from musicals to ballet to opera. The Terry Theater, a 600-seat multipurpose facility for the local arts and education community, was also renovated. The new building, Jacoby Concert Hall, is connected by a renovated lobby overlooking the St. John’s River, featuring a new grand porch. The hall seats 1,800 patrons and includes two balcony levels, side boxes and intimate terrace seating on either side of a stage. The stage itself is sized for a full orchestra with a 72-member choral complement.

Project Info
Cost: $32,000,000
Complete: 1997
Scope: Architecture, Construction Administration
Client: City of Jacksonville
Staff: Scott Wilson, Principal-in-Charge, and Scott Butler, Project Architect while with Rothman Partners in collaboration with the Jacksonville firm of KBJ Architects

arts / entertainment

"We always wanted a place we could be proud of, and clearly we have achieved that. We built a performing arts center that has dignity and style."
John Delaney, Mayor, Jacksonville, FL