Colburn School to Open New Expansion September 25, 2027

The 100,000-square-foot project will include a 1,000-seat hall and new facilities for the Trudl Zipper Dance Institute.

Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Fine Art

Bold vector editorial illustration of a modern building with sweeping, curved metal walls, representing the new Colburn School expansion in Los Angeles. — The Colburn School in Los Angeles will open its 100,000-square-foot expansion on September 25, 2027, featuring new performance halls and dance studios. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Colburn School in Los Angeles is scheduled to open its new 100,000-square-foot expansion on September 25, 2027. This project creates the largest Gehry-designed building cluster in the world.

Why it matters

The development significantly expands the institution's reach by providing new performance venues and dedicated studios for its dance and orchestral programs. It serves as a major addition to the local arts infrastructure in Downtown Los Angeles.

The expansion includes the 1,000-seat Terri and Jerry Kohl Hall and a dance center featuring a 100-seat studio theater with four professional-sized studios. The facility joins existing performance spaces like Zipper Hall and Thayer Hall.

The players

The Colburn School

This is a performing arts institution that provides music and dance education in Los Angeles.

Frank Gehry

He was a renowned architect who died in December 2025 and designed the building cluster for the school.

Colburn Orchestra

This is a professional-track student orchestra associated with the school.

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra

This is a professional ensemble that will be housed within the new hall.

Trudl Zipper Dance Institute

This is the dance division of the school that will occupy the new dance center.

The details

This project will house the Colburn Orchestra and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, while also serving as the new home for the Trudl Zipper Dance Institute. The construction effort results in the largest concentration of buildings designed by Frank Gehry in the world.

November 2026 marks the expected opening of the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center.
Summer 2027 is the estimated completion date for the Colburn construction.
September 25, 2027, is the date the Colburn School expansion opens.

Industry Dynamics

The project follows the pattern of recent large-scale cultural developments in the city, such as the 2026 opening of the David Geffen Galleries. It reflects a continued trend of significant investment in Los Angeles' artistic and museum landscape.

Residents and visitors will gain access to a new 1,000-seat performance venue in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles. This expansion increases capacity for major orchestral events and local dance productions.

The takeaway

The project establishes a major new hub for classical music and dance in Los Angeles. Residents should watch for upcoming performance schedules once the venue is fully operational in late 2027.