Colburn School Will Open New Gehry Concert Hall in 2027

The $337 million expansion on Bunker Hill introduces a 1,000-seat venue designed to bring audiences closer to performers.

Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Dance

Bold vector illustration of a sculptural concert hall with pink metallic panels and steel clouds against a clear sky. — The Colburn School will open a new $337 million concert hall in downtown Los Angeles on September 25, 2027, featuring an in-the-round layout. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Colburn School will unveil a new concert hall designed by Frank Gehry on September 25, 2027. This $337 million expansion in downtown Los Angeles aims to fill a niche for mid-sized performance venues.

Why it matters

The project addresses a local need for a hall sized between the school's existing 415-seat venue and the much larger 2,265-seat Walt Disney Concert Hall. It seeks to improve audience engagement through an in-the-round layout.

The 100,000-square-foot expansion includes a 1,000-seat concert hall and a 100-seat dance theater with four studios. The facility is designed to host more than 200 events annually.

The players

Frank Gehry

He is the world-renowned architect responsible for designing the new Colburn School concert hall.

Sel Kardan

He serves as the president of the Colburn School and oversaw the planning for the expansion.

Yasuhisa Toyota

He is a prominent acoustician who is tasked with optimizing the sound quality within the new hall.

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra

This musical organization will transition its operations to the new hall starting next year.

The details

Frank Gehry designed the project with signature steel clouds manufactured in the Netherlands to manage the hall's acoustics. The structure features pink exterior cladding called Pink Kandi and is the third building designed by the architect on Bunker Hill.

The Colburn School was founded in 1950.
The school moved to its current downtown location in 1998.
The new concert hall is scheduled to open in September 2027.
The inaugural concert is set for September 25, 2027.

Industry Dynamics

This project continues the trend of major arts institutions investing in specialized, architecturally distinct venues to define their identity. It follows a pattern established by the Walt Disney Concert Hall, solidifying Bunker Hill as a hub for cultural tourism and performance.

Residents and students will gain access to a new 1,000-seat theater designed for better proximity to the stage. This adds a mid-sized option for concert-goers in the downtown area, sitting between the capacity of small halls and large commercial venues.

The takeaway

The addition of this hall provides the school with a flexible space that bridges the gap between intimate student studios and major city concert venues. It highlights the growing importance of acoustic precision and architectural design in modern music education facilities.