Marianne McKenna joins Minnesota Orchestra to celebrate 50 years at Orchestra Hall

December 16, 2024

“We create beautiful spaces to connect us to music, to connect to the arts, to connect to culture, and to connect to each other.” – Marianne McKenna, founding partner 

Earlier this year, the Minnesota Orchestra celebrated its 50th anniversary at Orchestra Hall, a cultural landmark in Minneapolis and the Orchestra’s home since 1974. 

Founding partner Marianne McKenna joined Luella Goldberg, Life Director; Anthony Ross, Principal Cello; Sarah Hicks, Principal Conductor, Live; Nancy Lindahl, Chair and Life Director; and Thomas Søndergård, Music Director, all at the Minnesota Orchestra, to mark the occasion. 

When embarking on the transformation of Orchestra Hall — which won Architectural Record’s Good Design Is Good Business Award — KPMB’s goal was to sensitively reimagine it for the 21st century, improve the concert-going experience and attract new patrons while respecting the building’s heritage elements. 

Working with an excellent team of consultants, we reimagined the lobby, doubled the average floor area for each patron, and expanded its size and function. A new pavilion was created to connect the Hall to Peavey Plaza and reconnect the building to the city. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls showcase the activity within and provide dramatic views of the Minneapolis skyline. Originally designed to last only 15 years and hold 800 people, the lobby is now an amenity and a cultural and civic space for patrons of Orchestra Hall.  

We also upgraded the Hall’s acoustics and technical infrastructure, made improvements to its ventilation system, added new seating and lighting, and created the Target Atrium, a small, intimate performance hall with its own patio. These upgrades all contributed to the urban revitalization of Peavey Plaza and the south downtown core of the Twin Cities. 

Since the redesign of Orchestra Hall, the Minnesota Orchestra’s impact has expanded. During its 2023–24 season, 143 Minnesota Orchestra concerts were held at Orchestra Hall and beyond, 83% of the Hall’s seats were filled, and 28,242 students and teachers from 240 schools attended Young People’s Concerts. 

Read about the Orchestra Hall renewal here.