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- Abravanel Hall's historical status was celebrated with a new plaque on Wednesday.
- Salt Lake County leaders affirm Abravanel Hall's future as a cultural anchor.
- The concert hall's world-class acoustics will be preserved through during building renovations.
SALT LAKE CITY — Abravanel Hall will remain a key part of downtown Salt Lake City for decades to come, even as it undergoes future renovations as part of a major overhaul of the blocks east of the Delta Center.
That's what Salt Lake County leaders reassured musicians, performers and Carolyn Abravanel, widow of Maurice Abravanel, the building's namesake, gathered inside the building on Wednesday to celebrate its recent historical designation.
"Abravanel Hall will remain as a cultural anchor, ensuring that arts and culture continue to shape and define our community," said Erin Litvack, Salt Lake County's deputy mayor of county services.
The county is still preparing "much-needed renovations" for the back-of-house areas that will improve the experience for artists, performers, patrons and staff, Litvack said. County officials previously estimated the cost of renovating the building at approximately $200 million, including reconfiguring the loading dock in the back.
Planners are mapping out how to design those renovations without impacting Abravanel Hall's "world-class acoustics," she added.
Construction is expected to begin in the coming years as the county remodels the Salt Palace Convention Center, which could begin as early as 2027. MHTN Architects and Populous Holdings were hired in September to help redesign, rebuild or renovate the convention center, Abravanel Hall and the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art.
"We're also thinking about how other areas in the district can help make this space and the overall community even better," said Matt Castillo, director of Salt Lake County's arts and culture division. "We're really looking forward to that."
The update came as the county unveiled a new plaque recognizing Abravanel Hall's addition to the National Register of Historic Places, which was finalized in 2024 just as the building's fate became more certain. Building historian Adrienne White led the effort to add the building to the list on behalf of an ad hoc committee formed by Utah Symphony musicians to protect it.
Their goal was to highlight the building's acoustics and other unique features, which made it irreplaceable. Those elements helped secure its place on the register, making it eligible five years earlier than most other buildings completed in 1979.
Its acoustics, designed by legendary acoustician Cyris Harris, as well as many other building elements, are listed on the plaque to be placed outside the building's entrance.
The building's fate was sealed as the effort took place. Salt Lake County weighed several options for the building in 2024, as part of Smith Entertainment Group's plan for a "sports, entertainment, culture and convention district" in downtown Salt Lake City.
Leaders even discussed tearing it down and rebuilding it on Main Street before the county opted to preserve the building. The County Council passed a resolution calling for the building to be preserved, a month before it was added to the register.
"I think this placement on the register of historic places, as well as the community response, really helped show us what an important space this was," Castillo said, after Wednesday's ceremony.
Those who use it most are thrilled about its future. The concert hall attracts 300,000 people every year and serves as a unifying force in the community, as evidenced by the bipartisan resolution to save it, said Steven Brosvik, president and CEO of the Utah Symphony.
He and the Utah Symphony musicians thanked everyone who helped build it nearly 50 years ago and who worked to save it two years ago for ensuring it remains a community staple.
"I wish I could thank everybody by name," said Karen Wyatt, a violonist for the Utah Symphony. "Please know that your calls and your emails and your presence and tenacity made a difference."
