The Orange County Performing Arts Center management wanted to build a new performing arts center with a budget of $200 million. The new facility would serve as the permanent home of the Pacific Symphony Orchestra.
The facility includes a world-class rehearsal, performance, and recording facility commensurate with the orchestra's artistic quality, achievement, and aspirations. In addition to providing facilities for orchestral functions, the 260,000-square foot complex supports theater operations and houses a five-star restaurant. The complex also accommodates extensive backstage support spaces including dressing rooms, rehearsal rooms, and numerous private practice rooms. It contains a 2,000-seat concert hall and a 500-seat music theater.
Orange County selected one of the world's most renowned architectural firms, Cesar Pelli and Associates, as the prime architect for the new facility. Acoustical excellence was also another top priority, and Russell Johnson, Artec Consultants, was selected as the acoustical engineer for the project.
Because the original contract exceeded the budget limitation, Orange County needed a firm to review the contract and make recommendations on how to reduce the costs of the new performing arts center while maintaining quality requirements and meeting the budget.