Editing Kimmel Center (section)

== Design ==

Rafael Viñoly's design places two acoustically isolated performance halls within a massive glass-roofed enclosure. The barrel vault, spanning 150 feet and rising 150 feet above street level, creates a dramatic interior public space—the Commonwealth Plaza—that functions as urban room accessible to all. The enclosure's glass walls and roof flood the interior with natural light while the halls themselves, constructed as independent structures within the larger envelope, achieve the acoustic isolation their performances require.<ref name="vinoly">{{cite journal |title=Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts |journal=Rafael Viñoly Architects |year=2001}}</ref>

Verizon Hall, the larger of the two performance spaces, seats 2,500 in a cello-shaped auditorium designed for orchestral performance. The hall's shape, materials, and proportions were developed through collaboration with acoustician Russell Johnson to achieve sound quality appropriate to the Philadelphia Orchestra's needs. Wood surfaces, adjustable acoustic elements, and careful geometry create a hall that has earned praise from musicians and critics. Perelman Theater, the smaller venue, provides flexible space for recitals, jazz, and other performances requiring intimate scale.<ref name="gallery"/>