Photo Nick Merrick © Hedrich Blessing
Today, members of the media were given a tour of the hall by Maria Munoz-Blanco, head of the city’s Office of Cultural Affairs, which manages the hall, and Jack Hagler, partner with the theater-design consultants, Schuler Shook.
The $40 million, city-bought-and-paid-for, Performance Hall may seem like the poor sister’ of the Arts District — compared with the $354 million, double-facility, AT&T Performing Arts Center down the street. Or even just the $55 million, Nancy Hamon Wing on Booker T. Washington Arts Magnet High School, directly across Flora Street. On the other hand, the facility was paid for by two city bond issues, so unlike the PAC, it’s not still trying to raise some $30 million to pay off its design and building costs.