History

A cultural landmark taking up an entire city block in Houston, Texas is undergoing a multi-phase, multi-million-dollar rejuvenation designed to make the performing arts more enjoyable and accessible for all.

The celebrated building won the American Institute of Architects’ Honor Award in 1967.

The upgrades to the Jesse H. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, affectionately known to locals as Jones Hall, are a labour of love designed to keep the history of this vital entertainment venue intact while simultaneously fostering a welcoming environment for audiences and performers alike.

Originally completed in October 1966 and designed by the Houston-based architectural firm Caudill Rowlett Scott, the hall features a white Italian marble exterior with eight-story tall columns and a lobby dominated by a 60-foot ceiling.

The concert hall itself was unique, with 800 hexagonal ceiling segments that could be raised or lowered to change the acoustics.

"Jones Hall was one of the most technologically advanced theaters in the world when it was built."

"When I think about Jones Hall, I also think about Houston. Houston as a city is entrepreneurial. It's got big personality. It's generous and more than a little quirky. We have a beautiful but young history of builders, big business, of arts, and also of terrific philanthropy and generosity. And I think Jones Hall tells that story,” Meg Booth, the Performing Arts Houston CEO, told the Houston Press in 2022. “What a beautiful piece of history to be able to renovate and improve for all the citizens of Houston.”