The Craftsmanship of Ozawa Hall

Seiji Ozawa Hall is one of the crown jewels of the Tanglewood campus. Whether you’re a seasoned Tanglewood patron or a newcomer to the grounds, the building’s impressive architecture strikes you immediately. Ozawa Hall is situated on the gentle slope of the southeastern section of the Highwood estate adjacent to Tanglewood. This summer marks the 30th anniversary of Ozawa Hall's inaugural concert. Even 30 years later, the craftsmanship of the hall is still fascinating. We’re pleased to share some compelling historical background with the people who so often make the reality of new spaces possible with their generosity – our dedicated supporters.

Seiji Ozawa Hall is one of the crown jewels of the Tanglewood campus. Whether you’re a seasoned Tanglewood patron or a newcomer to the grounds, the building’s impressive architecture strikes you immediately. Ozawa Hall is situated on the gentle slope of the southeastern section of the Highwood estate adjacent to Tanglewood. This summer marks the 30th anniversary of Ozawa Hall's inaugural concert, and even 30 years later, the craftsmanship of Ozawa Hall is still fascinating. We’re pleased to share some interesting historical background with the people who so often make the reality of new spaces possible with their generosity—our dedicated supporters.

William Rawn Associates, Architects, Inc., a Boston-based firm, acoustician Lawrence Kirkegaard & Associates, and fellow Bostonian company Suffolk Construction were hired for the job. Before breaking ground in September 1992, William Rawn and Lawrence Kirkegaard toured many European concert halls in search of ideas. To mirror the peaceful, natural surroundings of the land, they decided to embrace wood and timber for the building. The Woodworks, an Architectural Woodwork Institute firm in New Hampshire, provided architectural woodwork for the Hall. From ceiling light frames and interior columns to exterior stairways and the barn doors at the back, they did it all. Alaskan yellow cedar was used for many of the exterior elements as it weathers to a beautiful silver gray. With its rich honey color, Douglas fir captured the warmth desired for the interior elements. Plantation teak was used for all auditorium seating, offering great wear resistance and aligning with Tanglewood’s summer vibe.

Ozawa has thick concrete block walls, similar to other major music halls, and the thickness of the walls is intended to bounce the orchestra’s notes back onto the audience. To handle the frigid conditions of the Berkshires, it was determined that the concrete walls of Ozawa needed an extra safeguard, so a specially formulated, three-product finishing system was created. To maximize the acoustics, cleated wooden screeds were precisely shot into the concrete walls. In layman’s terms, they carefully poked holes so the finishing system could permeate just as they wanted it to. Then, like an artist paints a canvas, the three coats were applied. One of the subcontractors felt so protective about properly executing the application of each finish that he climbed the scaffolding and personally supervised the crew! The final finish had a stucco-like appearance and was aptly named “Tanglewood Yellow,” further complementing the richness of the woods. 

Ozawa Hall’s Florence Gould Auditorium is a 1,180-seat enclosed concert space for performance, rehearsal, and recording activities at Tanglewood. Folding doors at the west end of the building reveal a lawn that provides space for at least 2,000 additional listeners under the stars. With the doors closed, the Hall is designed to serve as a recording facility. The Leonard Bernstein Performers Pavilion adjacent to the main structure contains back-of-house facilities encompassing a conductor’s suite, dressing rooms, instrument storage space, practice rooms, and a recording booth, all of which hug a small courtyard.

The Hall has received 14 architecture awards, including the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Honor Awards in Architecture in 1995 and in Interior Architecture in 2000. Very rarely does a single building win two national Honor Awards from the AIA, and we are very proud of this remarkable achievement.

As committed donors, you make so much possible, including the construction of buildings like Ozawa. Ozawa gathers artists of all levels—those emerging onto the scene and eager to learn, and those well-tenured and excited to share their talent and skill. Beyond the artist community, Ozawa gathers people to connect and share powerful experiences through music. You help to make that happen with your visionary giving and we are deeply grateful.