Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Names
Three Architect Finalists For Symphony Center

ATLANTA - April 17, 2002 - The Architect Selection Task Force for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s (ASO) Symphony Center project said today that it has narrowed the field to three finalists for the Midtown site. Following interviews, site visits and a lecture series by each of the six semi-finalists at Georgia Institute for Technology and at Symphony Hall in the Woodruff Arts Center, the eight-member Task Force headed by ASO board member Adair Massey announced the following finalists:

• Santiago Calatrava - Paris, France; Valencia, Spain; Zurich, Switzerland - Projects of note include the Milwaukee Art Museum (Milwaukee, WI), Valencia Opera House (Valencia, Spain)
• Schmidt, Hammel, Lassen - Copenhagen, Denmark - Projects of note include Royal Library (Copenhagen, Denmark), Aarhus New Art Museum Culture Centre (Greenland)
• Bing Thom - Vancouver, Canada - Projects of note include The Chan Centre for Performing Arts (Vancouver, BC), Surrey City Center Project (Vancouver, BC), Canada Pavilion, Expo ’92 (Seville, Spain)

“All three finalists bring tremendous energy to the project, thoughtful insights in stretching the Master Plan, and have performing arts experience, “ said Massey. “The finalists are deeply interested in connecting with our community.”

Due to the positive public response to the selection process and the large turnout for each of the architect lectures Massey said the Task Force decided to announce the three finalists. “Atlanta’s response to the lecture series and interest in this decision has been terrific,” said Massey, “and we wanted to respond to that enthusiasm.”

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is the largest arts organization in the Southeast and one of the youngest American orchestras to achieve prominence on the global stage. The Orchestra's recordings, some featuring the globally renowned ASO Chorus, have earned 18 Grammys. Now in its 57th season, the ASO performs a year-round slate of more than 250 concerts, including a 72-concert Classical season and related series at Atlanta Symphony Hall; an annual summer pops series at Chastain Park Amphitheater, and a full schedule of educational, neighborhood and Free Parks concerts throughout in Metro Atlanta. The Orchestra supports 200 young musicians annually in the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra and Talent Development programs. The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Classical Concerts Presenting Sponsor is Delta Air Lines. Media Sponsors are The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Newstalk 750 WSB. The ASO is also supported in part by grants from the Fulton County Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts, The Georgia Council for the Arts, and the City of Atlanta Bureau of Cultural Affairs. The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra's 2002 Classic Chastain season is sponsored by Atlanta Coca-Cola Bottling Company, BellSouth, Wachovia and Worldspan.