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Building Overview

This 2,100-seat performing arts center has served as the home of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra beginning since 2002, and has hosted a variety of popular musical, theatrical and comedic acts since then.

Building History

Seattle architectural firm LMN produced the design for this 136,000-square-foot performing arts center, completed in 2002. Located on the periphery of Downtown Memphis near the Mississippi River, the building "...mediates the divide between urban and river environments." (See LMN Architects, "Cannon Center for the Performing Arts," accessed 02/19/2015.) The LMN web site expanded on the design of the Cannon Center: "The performance hall is conceived around the classic horseshoe plan configuration reminiscent of a European opera house. A parterre level and two balcony levels form graceful curves, clad in akacio wood, that engage the proscenium frame—embellishing connection between performer and audience through a unified expression of form and materiality. Flexible forestage configurations and variable acoustic systems provide extensive flexibility to accommodate a wide range of performance events, from symphony orchestra to opera, ballet, and popular music concerts." Between 1997 and 2002, LMN had several important commissions for performing arts buildings, including the Seattle Symphony's Benaroya Concert Hall (1997-1998), Mercer Arts Arena renovation (2001), the Cannon Center (2001-2002), and the Seattle Opera House renovation (2002-2003).

Building Notes

Tel: 901-576-1200 (2015).

LMN designed a 2,000-seat performing arts center for the Memphis's symphony, opera and ballet.

PCAD id: 10848