How about a little music trivia about Jones Hall? This hall in Houston is more than just a building. It is a legacy. It stands as a testament to Jesse H. Jones. He was a key figure in Houston’s history.
Jones Hall officially opened on October 2, 1966. It cost 7.4 million dollars. In 2023 dollars, that would be 74.5 million. The hall is named for Jesse H. Jones. He was a former United States Secretary of Commerce. He was also a Houstonian.
Houston Endowment Inc. underwrote the hall’s construction. This foundation was established by Jones and his wife Mary Gibbs Jones. Upon completion, the hall was gifted to the city. Today, the Houston First Corporation operates it.
Caudill Rowlett Scott, a Houston-based architectural firm, designed Jones Hall. The hall occupies an entire city block. Its exterior features white Italian marble and eight-story tall columns. Inside, the lobby boasts a 60-foot high ceiling. Richard Lippold’s bronze sculpture Gemini II dominates the space.
The concert hall has unique acoustics. Its ceiling is made of 800 hexagonal segments. These segments can be raised or lowered. This changes the hall’s acoustics. The seating capacity can fluctuate. It ranges from 2,300 to 2,911. This depends on whether the upper balcony is open or closed. In 1967, the building won the American Institute of Architects’ Honor Award.
Bolt, Beranek and Newman designed the acoustics. They also designed New York City’s Avery Fisher Hall. They also designed San Francisco’s Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall.
Jones Hall has undergone renovations. A 1993 renovation ensured compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. From 2001 to 2003, a 28 million dollar renovation took place. This addressed marble panels falling from the facade. It also renovated areas flooded during Tropical Storm Allison in 2001. Asbestos was removed from the interior too.
Jesse Jones wished for Houston to have a new opera house. Jones Hall became his lasting gift to the city. The hall was built on the site of the old City Auditorium. Construction began in January 1964.
The building’s design offers versatility. The 800 hexagons overhead can alter the room’s acoustics. The auditorium can shrink from 2,912 seats to 2,300 seats. Red velvet seating and golden teak walls enhance the hall’s ambiance.
The Gemini II sculpture pays homage to the hall’s performers. It also acknowledges Houston’s role in space exploration. Jones Hall won the American Institute of Architects’ Honor Award in 1967.
Today, Jones Hall is home to the Houston Symphony and Performing Arts Houston. More than 400,000 visitors attend events each year. Jesse Jones inspired Houston to grow. He was a builder, banker, and publisher. He stimulated economic recovery during the Great Depression. He helped prepare the nation for global defense during World War II.
Jones Hall stands as a symbol of Houston’s cultural richness. It also embodies Jesse Jones’s vision. It continues to inspire and entertain.