Steph Kukuljan
ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra's expansion wing will be named the Jack C. Taylor Music Center, officials were set to announce Wednesday.
Taylor, founder of Enterprise Mobility, was a longtime patron and gave a $40 million grant to the symphony to re-establish its endowment trust in 2000. That money helped save the venue from bankruptcy and "set the course for a more successful trajectory," said Marie-Hélène Bernard, the Symphony's president and CEO.
"We are honored to remember Jack and celebrate his legacy in this way -- and remain immeasurably grateful for his visionary belief in the greatness of St. Louis and the SLSO," she said in a statement.
The Powell Hall name will stay, officials said.
The more than $134 million renovation will feature a 64,000-square-foot addition, new learning center, lobby and expanded backstage area that will be more inviting to visitors, musicians and the Grand Center neighborhood.
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The Symphony has been playing at various venues across the region during construction. This spring, the organization will test acoustics of the expansion and prepare to move back, said Bernard.
"We're anxious to get back to Powell Hall," she said in an interview.
Built in 1925, Powell Hall was initially known as the St. Louis Theatre, a vaudeville house and movie theater. It was renovated in 1968 when it became the Symphony's permanent home. Powell's expansion marks the organization's first major project since.
St. Louis-based BSI Constructors started construction in 2022. Snohetta, a Norway-based firm, is the project's architect.
The new wing is expected to open in September 2025 in time for the SLSO's 146th season and the centennial of Powell Hall.
"Dad loved St. Louis," said Jo Ann Taylor Kindle, Jack Taylor's daughter. "It was important to him to ensure that St. Louis would continue to enjoy an internationally recognized orchestra."
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