Page 35 - Fall 2019

Photo courtesy of OTJ Architects
The auditorium before renovation. Exterior of the Cincinnati Music Hall. Photo © Whitney Cox Photography

Photo © Whitney Cox Photography Taft Suite at the Cincinnati Music Hall. Photo © Whitney Cox Photography

Historic Places, and in 2014 it made the National Trust for Historic The project also restored the exterior, including unique
Preservation’s “Most Endangered Buildings” list. The latter may sandstone details that indicated the function of the space
have been part of an advocacy push to obtain some $83 million beyond, such as a French-horn-and-lyre motif at the entrance to
from the state plus $25 million of federal historic tax credits for a the auditorium, flower and bird motifs at the South Exposition
complete renovation/restoration. Hall (originally aimed at horticultural exhibits), and scientific
Washington’s Martinez+Johnson Architecture, a premier tool motifs at the North Exposition Hall (originally intended for
architecture firm in the U.S. for projects of this type, had little mechanical trade shows).
competition for the commission. The DC firm served as design The South Exposition Hall was restored and upgraded to
architects, with Cincinnati firm Perfido Weiskof Wagstaff + Goettel become the Ballroom, which, as the moniker suggests, now serves
as executive architects. (Following the untimely 2017 death of as a fancy events venue. The North Exposition Hall was converted
principal Thomas E. Johnson, FAIA, Martinez+Johnson became to back-of-house space, such as loading facilities, administrative
part of OTJ Architects. The Chapter Award was given under the and operations offices, set construction shops, practice rooms, and
OTJ name.) storage areas, all of which are necessities for 21st-century music
As they have done with scores of other historic auditoria, the halls. At the third floor, the room behind the giant rose window,
architects oversaw a stem-to-stern revitalization combining entirely known as the Corbett Tower, was adapted as a venue for chamber
new and upgraded behind-the-walls work (mechanical, electrical, groups as well as weddings and other events.
plumbing, fire control, and structural), restoration of finishes and The renovated Springer Auditorium now seats some 2,400
ornamental motifs, and incorporation of a modest amount of new patrons, which ranks it fourth in size in the U.S. after the
elements as required for modern-day codes and functionality. Metropolitan Opera House in New York, the Auditorium Theatre
Notable in this case was the restoration of the Music Hall’s huge, in Chicago (a major work of renowned architects Adler &
spectacular chandelier, which was not original, in fact, but rather Sullivan), and DAR Constitution Hall here in Washington. It
added during a less systematic renovation in the 1970s. The most retains its longtime role as an anchor of the Over-the-Rhine area,
visible sign of change is the addition of new sound baffles—pillow- a mixed-use neighborhood just north of Cincinnati’s Central
like hanging elements just below the proscenium arch, which give Business District.
a needed boost to the acoustics of the auditorium.

INSTITUTIONAL INVESTMENTS 33