Have you recently visited Jones Hall? If not, get ready for a new experience on your next visit! The Foundation for Jones Hall and Houston First Corporation have just announced that they have finished a five-year project to renovate and improve Jesse H. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts. This news comes as Houston's iconic venue celebrates its 60th anniversary. This project is a big investment in Jones Hall’s future. It improves the experience for both audiences and performers and helps keep the venue at the heart of Houston’s arts community for years to come.
With Houston First and the Foundation for Jones Hall working together, nearly every part of the experience for guests and performers has been updated. The renovations took place over five years so shows could keep going. As the home of the Houston Symphony and Performing Arts Houston, supporters raised more than $67 million to fund these improvements.
“Jones Hall has been at the center of Houston’s performing arts community for six decades, and this investment ensures it will remain there well into the future,” said Houston Mayor John Whitmire. “I’m pleased to see Houstonians come together to help preserve this important arts space.”
Renovations happened over five summers starting in 2021, allowing resident companies to keep performing. The Foundation led improvements like:
- new seating and the creation of aisles in the performance hall
- significant acoustical improvements including new sidewalls and orchestra shell
- a refinished stage floor and new grand curtain
- renovated and reconfigured lobby
- expanded and relocated restrooms
- expanded and renovated Green Room.
The renovations also upgraded key systems, adding new technology and design features to streamline operations and improve each performance. Houston First added new stage lighting, modern elevators including a 10,000-pound glass elevator in the lobby, a new roof, and key improvements to the heating, cooling, and fire alarm systems.
“The completion of this project represents the fulfillment of an ambitious vision for the future of Jones Hall,” said Barbara McCelvey, Immediate Past Chair, Board of Directors of the Foundation for Jones Hall. “This transformation was made possible by an extraordinary community of donors and supporters who understand the importance of the performing arts to Houston. Together with Houston First, we have preserved what generations of Houstonians love about Jones Hall while making the investments necessary to ensure this extraordinary venue continues to inspire audiences and artists for decades to come.”
Since it opened in 1966, Jones Hall has been a key part of Houston’s Theater District, welcoming millions of visitors and hosting well-known musicians, performers, and artists from around the world. “Great cities invest in the institutions and public spaces that bring people together,” said Michael Heckman, President and CEO of Houston First (pictured). “Jones Hall has done that for Houston for 60 years. With this transformation complete, we are excited about what the next 60 years will bring.”
This project is part of a larger effort to support Houston’s downtown cultural life. As a main venue run by Houston First, Jones Hall draws locals and visitors alike, helping boost the Theater District and support nearby restaurants, hotels, and businesses.
Photos: courtesy of Houston First. Header photo: Jones Hall exterior; opening photo: Mayor John Whitmire issued a proclamation celebrating the 60th anniversary of Jones Hall.
