Copley Symphony Hall Administrative Offices Remodel, San Diego

Barnhart completed this $2.6-million remodel to the San Diego Copley Symphony Hall Administrative Offices. The remodeled offices are located in the western portion of the historic Fox Theatre, which was encapsulated when the new symphony hall and towers were constructed in the 1970s. The offices encompass three stories in an intricate over/under plan with the symphony hall itself.

Constructed in 1929, many features of the hall are priceless by today's standards. The interior motif was cast in Rococo theme and is typical of the French Renaissance period. Many of the decorative details on the walls and ceilings were copied accurately from their original designs in the chateaux along the Loire at Blois, Chambord, Tours and Azay le Rideau. The entire structure is cast-in-place concrete, with structural steel and 14-karat gold-leaf painting featured throughout the grand hall. The features are unique to Copley, and it is estimated that today's cost would be 20 times its original price tag. Barnhart was tasked with preserving the antiquity and richness of the hall, while bringing the building to code and making it handicap accessible-one of numerous project challenges faced by Barnhart.

The project included a new entry which was designed through the old box office window and the addition of an elevator which was included to provide access to the office space and lower/upper floors of the symphony hall. A new interior staircase between the third and fourth floors was added to provide access to the office space. All interior spaces were stripped of existing materials and brought back to the bare concrete structure. Interiors were then rebuilt to provide a contemporary office space with a sophisticated loft feel. New office space features include cherry wood and exposed structure and mechanical ducting which embody the open culture of the administration.

Barnhart managers faced several unique challenges during the renovation, including a severely restricted site with virtually no storage or staging area. The confined site prevented the use of traditional equipment so Barnhart managers were forced to employ some creative techniques. To install the elevator, Barnhart constructed an A-frame crane on the side of the roof, three stories high and perched on the side of the building. The elevator was swung in through a small opening specially created on the side of the building. The elevator pit was dug by hand, using only a 2,000-lb. wench to construct the void, and then debris was disposed of by hand using five-gallon buckets. Concrete had to be painstakingly cut by hand and removed with the use of a furniture dolly.

The city lacked any substantial drawings or plans for the building, so Barnhart had to conduct destructive testing to find basic water lines and utilities. During the testing, Barnhart discovered 200 telephone lines which the entire city block relied on, buried beneath the elevator pit that needed to be relocated. Through close coordination with SBC, Barnhart successfully rerouted all 200 phone lines, without a single interruption of service or inconvenience to the client.

The San Diego Symphony was in full operation during the entire construction period. Barnhart worked closely to ensure a seamless schedule for the client. Every night, the Barnhart team demobilized and cleaned so that Symphony patrons would not be inconvenienced by a messy job site. The lack of storage area, coupled with the increase in lead times for items like steel, and the elevator meant a constant balance of time and space.

Despite the lack of drawings, equipment, or staging area, the project was a success. Close coordination with the owner, a passion for superior client satisfaction and innovative construction techniques resulted in a state-of-the-art, and handicap accessible facility for Copley Symphony Hall, enabling the Symphony to enrich the community through arts and their extensive outreach efforts for years to come.

Judges' Comments:
"It's head and shoulders above the other entries."

Project Team:

Owner: San Diego Symphony
Owner's representative: Echo Pacific Construction
Architect: Dominy + Associates
General contractor: Douglas E. Barnhart Inc.
Key subcontractors:
Standard Drywall Inc.
JJJ Flooring
International Iron (structural steel)
Casper Co. (demolition)
Spooner's Woodworks Inc. (casework)
Simmons & Wood Inc. (paint)
Bergelectric (electrical)
Alpha Mechanical (HVAC)
Division 8 (glass)
Jim's Sign Shop
Sierra Cascade Concrete (structural concrete)
Brady Corp. (doors, frames, hardware)
Witherow Roofing
McIntyre Co. (metal decking)

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