On its south, east, and west sides, the building is a composition of solid limestone forms. The exception is the entrance to the smaller Samueli Family Theater, where a tall glass lobby creates a large and dramatic marquee. The main entrance to the hall is all glass but faces north so is naturally protected from the sun. This undulating wall of white glass creates an ever-changing composition of reflections, transparencies, and highlights.
In recognition of Henry’s personal cornerstone gift, the new concert hall was named the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall after the Center’s founding chairman and in honor of his late wife. The Segerstrom Concert Hall accommodates up to 2,000 audience members. The shoebox-shaped hall features three, silver-leafed, acoustical canopies that mark the interior. Silver leaf, applied to the gently curving ribbons of the canopy, forms a shimmering ceiling, reflecting the colors of both the performers and audience below. The pipes for the organ are also silvery—some formed of metal, and others in wood covered with silver leaf. The silver pipes and the canopy were designed so that the canopy will appear as almost an extension of the organ itself, reinforcing the fluid movement of the design in concert with the flow of sound.
The architects note that the ribbons of the canopy relate to the curving forms of the concert hall balconies, the lobby ceiling, and the glass facade. The room is equipped with acoustics-control chambers, which, in conjunction with the adjustable canopies, create ideal performance conditions for large symphony orchestras, chamber ensembles, chorales, and solo instrumentalists and vocalists. The adjustable acoustic curtains and banners bring additional flexibility to the acoustical capabilities of the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. An adjustable orchestra pit can be potentially used for extra seating stage space. The Concert Hall includes a music library, two large orchestra chambers for rehearsals, eight individual rehearsal rooms, and fifteen dressing rooms.
On January 12, 2011, the name of the complex was officially changed to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. The new name honors the extraordinary contributions of the Segerstrom family, whose unwavering commitment to the proliferation of the arts in Orange County has been at the core of the Center’s success.