In July of 1987, Venturi, Scott Brown and Associates was selected to design a new orchestra hall for the world-renowned Philadelphia Orchestra. The orchestra's home at the time, the historic Academy of Music, had major drawbacks; it had to be shared with other performing organizations and it was believed to have less than ideal acoustics for orchestral performance and recording. The new 246,000 sf hall designed by VSBA would give the Orchestra an acoustically appropriate space where it may perform and record without outside scheduling pressure, and where other concerts may be presented. (The Academy of Music would continue its role as a major Philadelphia theater, and would be renovated to serve the needs of modern staged productions.)

Philadelphia Orchestra Hall

The hall was to occupy a site on the southwest corner of Broad and Spruce Streets in Philadelphia's center city. Patrons could enter the building from two sides, either directly from Broad Street or from the automobile drop-off on Delancey Street. The ground floor lobby was to accommodate such service functions as the box offices, coat room and elevators, and a ceremonial stair leads to the elegant Grand Lounge on the main floor of the concert hall.

In the performance chamber, balconies were to surround the orchestra platform on all sides, allowing the hall to seat between 2700 and 2800 patrons. There were to be three rear balconies, four side box levels, and three tiers behind the platform. The interior was richly appointed, with indirect lighting concealed behind decorative fretwork on the balcony fronts. There was also a 600 seat recital hall.

Acoustic consultants Artec Inc. had devised a number of features that allowed the hall to be acoustically adjusted to optimal listening conditions for different kinds of performances. These included sound chambers that could be opened or closed, an acoustic canopy that could be raised or lowered, and sound absorptive material that could be unrolled as needed. The building was acoustically separated from street and subway noise by a complex system of vibration isolation pads and joints.

The exterior design of the building took its visual cues from the adjacent University of the Arts Main Building. The large Broad Street windows opened into the Grand Lounge, allowing the excitement and gala atmosphere of an orchestra evening to be glimpsed from the street.

VSBA's design for the Philadelphia Orchestra Hall was not built. The project's parameters were modified and another firm’s design was selected.