ARCHITECT JEAN NOUVEL NOMINATED LAUREATE FOR MAJOR SYMPHONIC HALL IN EUROPE

Participation in Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Architect Lecture Series is canceled

ATLANTA - March 11, 2001 - The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra announced today that the Paris-based architectural firm, Ateliers Jean Nouvel (AJN) has withdrawn its candidacy for the Symphony Center project in midtown Atlanta after being informed that the firm has been nominated laureate of a competition for a major Symphonic hall in Europe to be announced on March 20th, 2002.

In a letter from Jean Nouvel he states: "As you may imagine, this was a very difficult decision for me, for it was with the highest enthusiasm that I engaged in the selection process for your new Symphonic Hall. I am fully aware what a monumentally important commission your project represents, and would have been thrilled to have been fortunate enough to be selected as the architect. However, my approach to architecture requires me to be personally and intensely involved in each project I undertake. This sometimes obliges me to refuse projects in order to properly serve the clients I already have. Unfortunately, this is the case today with the Atlanta Symphony Center. I believe it would not have been fair for me to continue my participation in the ASO process, and even less so to accept such a major commission knowing that I could not give it the full attention it deserves. I thank you for inviting me to take part in this process and for the interest you showed in my work. With all the care and attention the ASO is giving to the selection process, I am convinced you will succeed in giving Atlanta an architectural statement of great value, and I wish you the best future for your project."

While in Atlanta for interviews with the ASO's Architect Selection Task Force, AJN, along with the other six semi-finalists, had planned to participate in a lecture series, entitled "Imagine - The Shape of Things to Come", offered by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra for Georgia Tech students and the public. The AJN lecture on Monday, March 18th has been canceled. All other lectures will resume as scheduled.

AJN, whose projects have included the Lyon Opera House (Lyon, France) and the Lucerne Culture and Convention Center Concert Hall (Lucerne, Switzerland), was one of seven architect firms competing to design the new Atlanta Symphony Center.