San Diego Symphony Delays Copley Hall Reopening

The project was due for completion in November 2023, but has been pushed back indefinitely

The San Diego Symphony has been forced to delay the re-opening of its home venue, the Copley Symphony Hall — which is currently undergoing a renovation to the tune of $125 million. The orchestra had been planning for the space to open in November 2023, but construction and redesign challenges have meant that this date is no longer viable.

The renovation project began in February 2022 and is a collaboration between the Connecticut company Akustiks, the Minnesota acoustics company HGA, and the theater-planning and architectural design company Schuler Shook.

The orchestra's players will continue to be paid while the renovation is completed and some of its November concerts will be moved to the Rady Shell at Jacobs Park.

"It is imperative that we stay true to the fidelity of the project and that we don't shortchange the aesthetics or acoustics of the concert hall," said Martha Gilmer, the CEO of the San Diego Symphony. "My prediction is that [the re-opening] will be in 2024," she added. "What I don't want to do is get everybody's hopes up and give a date I can't deliver."

"The thoroughness and thoughtfulness of every element of this project is impressive," said Music Director Rafael Payare. "We have anticipated this opening for so long...a little while longer is worth it to get the best result."