The past months have seen immense progress on our site and also on our testing facility. There, every critical building process is modeled and tested to ensure Frank Gehry’s vision and innovation is executed to the Gehry standard of excellence. Here are a few of the current mock-ups:
EXTERIOR: Windows, Panels, Roofing
This mock-up brings together all the exterior glazing, metal panels, and roofing systems of the building enclosure for aesthetic and technical review. In addition to establishing the quality standards, the mock-up allows for exterior wall testing to confirm the installation is properly waterproofed. The results of this test allow the contractor team to improve the quality of the installation in the permanent building.
SEATING TIERS: Refining Finishes
This mock-up demonstrates the high level of precision required for the concert hall’s concrete work at the floors and stairs of the main concert hall seating area. The concrete must maintain a refined finish along the curved seating tiers and includes the illuminated stair railings and wood paneling finishes. This mock-up also includes a section of the wood flooring at the orchestra pit lift and an example of the removable railing and temporary stairs that will be used when the loose seating is employed in front of the performers.
FLOATING BALCONY: Acoustic Transparency
This mock-up focuses on the concert hall’s floating balcony, a major structural and acoustic challenge. The balcony is designed as a large trussed bridge, with a curved shape that spans the entire room. The acoustician required the balcony finishes and the structural design to be acoustically transparent, allowing sound to travel through the balcony shape. The mockup enables the design team to review the acoustic finishes, railings, theatrical lighting rails, and precision millwork, which clad the structural steel with tight clearances.
CLOUDS: Construction and Installation
This mockup demonstrates how the contractor team will manufacture and install the sculptural acoustic ceiling panels, referred to as the “clouds,” in Terri and Jerry Kohl Hall. The panels are built with a painted steel skin and frame fabricated in the Netherlands. Each cloud has three to five panels and is filled with concrete after installation to achieve the acoustic mass for this critical design feature. The cloud is finished with a thin coat of textured plaster required by Nagata Acoustics to diffuse specific sound waves. The mockup also replicates the installation process, allowing the team to refine the sequence of the installation and model the placement of the clouds in the hall.
On October 13, 2025, Founders Circle members were invited behind-the-scenes to view the performance mock-ups and meet members of the design and construction teams. To join future Founders Circle events, we invite you to explore membership at www.colburncenter.org.