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In the most significant renovation in its 128-year history, work will include mural restorations, all new ADA-compliant seating, a new HVAC system, updated electrical work, and more

Pittsburgh, PA — August 14, 2023 — Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, in partnership with Volpatt Construction, has begun the restoration and renovation of the historic Carnegie Music Hall. With architectural design by Gensler and engineering by CJL Engineering,  work will include restoring the grand proscenium arch and murals throughout the hall and improving on the health, safety, and wellness of theater goers. New ADA-compliant seating will be installed as well as electrical updates and a new HVAC system, which means that the Music Hall will be air-conditioned for year-round activity. The new space will meet Carnegie Museums’ cultural and recreational needs and amplify the economic activity the Hall stimulates.

Under the direction of the Volpatt project team, historic paint and proscenium restoration will be executed by Patrinos Painting. McKamish, Inc. will be handling HVAC equipment modernization. Upgrades to the existing electrical will be completed by Keystone Electrical Systems. The new wider seats with improved sightlines are custom-designed with classic wood and metal details.  Small changes will also be made to the overall layout of the theater to provide extra safety and better ADA accommodations. The Music Hall closed for renovations on June 20, and the project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2023.

“Carnegie Music Hall is one of Pittsburgh’s outstanding cultural treasures,” said Steven Knapp, President & Chief Executive Officer, Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh. “This renovation will significantly enhance its accessibility and will enable us to use it year-round to serve the community and our many institutional partners.”

“We are honored that Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh is entrusting us with this significant project and look forward to working as a team to enhance the beauty of the Music Hall,” said Michael Volpatt, Vice President of Marketing and Innovation at Volpatt Construction. “Audiences and performers alike will appreciate the modernized version of the classical turn of the century architecture.”

For more than 125 years the Carnegie Music Hall has been revered as one of Pittsburgh’s most iconic cultural spaces. Thousands of performances have taken place, entertaining scores of Pittsburghers and visitors to the area. Some interesting historical facts about the Music Hall include:

• The historic Carnegie Museums and Library building was erected in 1895 and included two twin towers and a curving exterior. The towers were removed in 1907 and the curve was enclosed with a grand foyer. The curve can still be seen from the attic of the music hall.
• Andrew Carnegie’s goal was to make the space the center of musical culture in Pittsburgh and offered free organ recitals, which continued into the 1970s.
• The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra traces its roots to the Music Hall and was founded by the Pittsburgh Arts Society with conductor Frederic Archer in 1895.
• The inaugural concert took place on November 5, 1895, and since then there have been performances by musical greats including Luciano Pavoratti, Ella Fitzgerald, Arlo Guthrie, Chuck Mangione, and Bernadette Peters.
• The original auditorium seated approximately 2,000 people.
• There are 8,600 pipes in the Music Hall organ and the largest, at 32 feet long, weighs 1,000 pounds.

About Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh

Founded by Andrew Carnegie in 1895, Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh is a family of four dynamic, distinctive museums: Carnegie Museum of Art, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Carnegie Science Center, and The Andy Warhol Museum. The museums reach up to 1.5 million people annually through exhibitions, educational programs, outreach activities, and special events. For more information visit carnegiemuseums.org.