Jones Hall, Houston

Jones Hall is a magnificent performing arts center. The hall has been entertaining arts patrons since its opening in 1966, offering countless stage and musical performances to millions of visitors over the years. The building was constructed on the site of the old City Auditorium, which was demolished in 1963, and was funded entirely by the Houston Endowment Inc. The hall is a monument to the memory of Jesse Holman Jones, a prominent figure in Houston during the first half of the 20th century, and it was his wish to see a new opera house in Houston before his death in 1956.

The stunning curving travertine marble facade of Jones Hall dominates an entire city block, with an exterior rectangle of eight-story columns and a brilliantly lit grand entrance. The classically elegant interior is equally impressive, with vibrant red velvet seating, golden teak walls, and a sweeping loge that seems to reach for the stage. The building's architects, Caudill Rowlett Scott, designed the hall with brilliant planning that offers unparalleled versatility, enabling it to accommodate several art forms. Overhead, 800 hexagons create a moveable marvel that can be raised or lowered to regroup volumes, alter the physical circumstances of a room, and manipulate acoustics. The auditorium can shrink from 2,912 seats to 2,300, enhancing the ambience of the hall.

Visitors will notice the "Gemini II" sculpture hovering just below the lobby ceiling when they enter the building. Commissioned by the Houston Endowment, Gemini II pays homage to the hall's performers and acknowledges Houston's role in space exploration, resembling shooting stars. Outside, Jones Hall is just as beautiful, with its curving marble walls and a rectangle of columns. The hall won the American Institute of Architects' Honor Award in 1967, a national award bestowed on only one building annually.

Today, Jones Hall is home to the Houston Symphony and the Society for the Performing Arts, and it attracts more than 400,000 visitors annually who attend some 250 events throughout the year.