Diamond Schmitt Architects And Al_a Shortlisted For Centre For Music In London

Diamond Schmitt Architects in partnership with UK architects AL_A are shortlisted to develop a concept design for a new concert hall in the City of London. The Barbican Centre, London Symphony Orchestra and Guildhall School of Music & Drama are leading the competition, with support from the City of London Corporation.

The Centre for Music is planned to contain a world-class concert hall, education, training and digital spaces, and excellent facilities for audiences and performers to bring music-making to the widest possible audience. "It would be a place of welcome, participation, discovery and learning fit for the digital age," said the project's backers in a press release.

The developers sought applications from internationally recognized experts to develop plans for a state-of-the-art building of acoustic and visual excellence. The other firms on the shortlist are Foster + Partners, Gehry Partners, Renzo Piano Building Workshop, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, and Snøhetta. The Centre would be a permanent home to the London Symphony Orchestra and host performances from the Barbican's family of Associate orchestras, as well as performances from touring artists and orchestras in a range of genres from across the UK and the world.

"We are thrilled to have the opportunity to help the Barbican, London Symphony Orchestra, Guildhall School and the City of London Corporation realize their goal for a concert hall to be among the best in the world," said Donald Schmitt, principal, Diamond Schmitt Architects.

Amanda Levete, Principal of AL_A, said: "I am thrilled that AL_A and Diamond Schmitt Architects have been shortlisted for this ambitious project. It is an extraordinary opportunity to redefine the role that music and culture can play in today's society, right in the heart of the City."

Diamond Schmitt Architects (www.dsai.ca) is among the world's top design firms for the cultural building sector. An award-winning portfolio of opera houses, concert halls and galleries includes the Mariinsky II Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia, Maison Symphonique in Montreal, and the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto. Current projects include the renewal of David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City and Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts and Sciences in Texas.

AL_A (www.ala.uk.com) is an award-winning architecture and design studio, with recently completed work including the highly acclaimed V&A Exhibition Road Quarter in London, MAAT in Lisbon, and Central Embassy in Bangkok. Ongoing commissions around the world include the transformation of the flagship Galleries Lafayette department store in Paris, two new buildings for Wadham College at the University of Oxford, and the Monte St Angelo subway station in Naples.