The Jacobs Music Center, home to the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, is now a top-tier venue for concerts, comedy shows, corporate events, film screenings, and more. This nearly 100-year-old hall has been beautifully transformed into a modern performance space while preserving its historic charm. Reopened in September 2024, the hall boasts state-of-the-art digital sound and lighting technology that can accommodate up to 1,823 audience members.
The revitalization of the Jacobs Music Center was a collaborative effort by the architectural firm HGA, acoustical consultant Akustiks, and Banker Wire decorative wire mesh formed and installed by fabricator MG McGrath. Key upgrades include a reconfigured stage, a new choral terrace behind the orchestra for large performances or additional seating, and new finishes and seating throughout the hall. The venue now features cutting-edge lighting, sound, and video equipment, ensuring superior acoustics for both performers and audiences.
One of the most impressive aspects of the renovation is the attention to detail in preserving the hall's historic elements. The stage and hall feature custom-formed Banker Wire woven metal mesh that supports acoustic excellence while visually appearing as historic theater curtains. MG McGrath formed the IPZ-91 woven wire mesh in a repeatable pattern to emulate theater curtains and then powder coated to complement the restored interior décor.
"We bent the mesh panels on our folding break into one of six profiles. Due to the profiles' varying shapes and radiused parts, we used the bump method to achieve the necessary bend radius." recounts Adam Nelson, Project Superintendent for MG McGrath. "Each wire mesh panel was checked against a template for consistency and rechecked once mounted to the support frame. Perfecting this process required numerous samples to fine-tune the programs. After forming, the wire mesh panels were sent out for powder coating."
The decorative wire mesh adds an ornate texture throughout the audience, as well as behind the stage, while adding to the luxurious theme of the space. Acoustic tuning panels were hidden behind the woven wire mesh to harmonize with the hall's original designs. The open areas of the IPZ-91 woven pattern allow sound to travel through the wire mesh and get dampened by the acoustic panels behind it while minimizing sound reflectivity.
Nelson recounts, "Upon seeing the completed installation, I was pleased with the overall appearance. It closely matched the design team's vision and any small imperfections added to the intended look of a curtain hanging from the ceiling."
Other historic features in the Jacobs Music Center, such as the original chandelier and ornamental plaster castings, were also meticulously restored. Where necessary, original materials were replicated or updated with modern equivalents, seamlessly blending the old with the new. This $125 million transformation, led by HGA, enhances the musical and performance experiences for both artists and audiences while honoring the history of the former Fox Theatre. The newly renovated Jacobs Music Center was officially inaugurated during its opening weekend concert on September 28, 2024.
