Carnegie Hall
Name of Building
Carnegie Hall
Town or City, Country where the building was originally established
New York, New York, United States of America
Date the building was designed and/or first built
May 13, 1890 - Cornerstone cemented, construction begins
May 5, 1891 - Opening night.
1894 - Two artist studios added.
1897 - Second round of additions made (Studio towers)
1908 - First marquee added to front.
1920s - Exterior stairs removed, six storefronts carved．
1947 - Renovations and improvements approved by acting president Robert Simon Jr.
1966 - Main auditorium’s center aisle removed, seats replaced, stage extended, and new floors installed.
1983 - Full interior renovation begins (includes the removal of storefronts).
1986 - Renovation completed.
January 1987 - Weill Recital Hall opens.
2003 - Zankel Hall opens.
2011 - Studio Towers renovation begins.
Name of Architect, Builder, or Primary Patron Responsible
Architect - William Burnet Tuthill
Builder - Andrew Carnegie
Culturally Specific Time Period
Gilded Age
Geo-Location
40.7648°N, 73.9797°W
Materials
Brick
Terracotta
Glass
Steel
Size and/or Scale of Building
Issac Stern Auditorium - Seats 2790, Stage 42 ft deep.
Judy and Arthur Zankel Hall - Seats 599, Stage 44 ft wide x 25 ft deep.
Joan and Sanford I. Weill Recital Hall - Seats 268, Stage 33 ft wide x 15 ft deep．
Judith and Burton Resnick Education Wing - 61000 square ft.
Rose Museum - 29 x 44 feet
Architectural Type
Public
Formal Style
Neo-Renaissance
Building Description
Terracotta ornaments line the sides with friezes placed above the fourth floor. Arched windows can be seen on the building’s facade. Stained glass and massive steps once adorned its exterior. Carnegie Hall is a building located in the heart of New York City. Constructed at the end of the 19th century, the structure takes a neo-Renaissance style. The original building was made from reddish-brown brick and thick concrete walls utilizing the Guastavino process. Despite its builder, steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, little to no steel was present during its 1890 consturction. This allowed for resonating acoustics, enhancing the building’s use as a music venue. More than a place to listen to music, it was created to make music into art.
Carnegie Hall’s interior is separated into three music halls and an education wing. The Judith and Burton Resnick Education Wing is the newest addition, constructed in 2011 during the Studio Tower renovation project, though the Rose Museum located within was built twenty years prior. Resnick Education Wing, taking an L-shaped form, is one of the few areas where Carnegie steel is utilized, paying homage to the hall’s builder. The structure serves as a teaching space for artists and is open to the general public, facilitating the development of music within surrounding communities.
The oldest of the structures is the Issac Stern Hall, built by amateur architect William Tuthill. The hall is known for its world-class acoustics. When constructing it, Tuthill chose to make Stern Hall as simple as possible. The heavy curtains, extravagant chandeliers, and detailed frescoes, which are
present in other venues, are not present in Stern Hall. Instead, the curvilinear walls are smooth, the roof is domed, and the stage slightly protrudes out. The elements within Stern Hall are simple but amplify each note played.
Carnegie Hall as a whole is a gem of the music world, with Pyotr Illych Tchaikovsky, George Gershwin, Billie Holiday, etc. taking the stage while also being open for public education. Music travels through the halls because of the intentional simplicity ingrained in the original structure, and the education of said music travels through the wings as an extension of the said structure.
Carnegie Hall’s interior is separated into three music halls and an education wing. The Judith and Burton Resnick Education Wing is the newest addition, constructed in 2011 during the Studio Tower renovation project, though the Rose Museum located within was built twenty years prior. Resnick Education Wing, taking an L-shaped form, is one of the few areas where Carnegie steel is utilized, paying homage to the hall’s builder. The structure serves as a teaching space for artists and is open to the general public, facilitating the development of music within surrounding communities.
The oldest of the structures is the Issac Stern Hall, built by amateur architect William Tuthill. The hall is known for its world-class acoustics. When constructing it, Tuthill chose to make Stern Hall as simple as possible. The heavy curtains, extravagant chandeliers, and detailed frescoes, which are
present in other venues, are not present in Stern Hall. Instead, the curvilinear walls are smooth, the roof is domed, and the stage slightly protrudes out. The elements within Stern Hall are simple but amplify each note played.
Carnegie Hall as a whole is a gem of the music world, with Pyotr Illych Tchaikovsky, George Gershwin, Billie Holiday, etc. taking the stage while also being open for public education. Music travels through the halls because of the intentional simplicity ingrained in the original structure, and the education of said music travels through the wings as an extension of the said structure.
Image source
Image 1 - Carnegie Hall - Full (48155558466).jpg (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/26/Carnegie_Hall_-_Full_%2848155558466%29.jpg)
Image 2 - Carnegie Hall in 1895.jpg (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c8/Carnegie_Hall_in_1895.jpg)
Image 3 - CH137449.jpg (https://collections.carnegiehall.org/Assets/V2/ChFDSDFTNTAwMDAwMDAwMDAwNRIDVFIxGhpcVFIxXDFcZFw5XDRcQ0gxMzc0NDQ5LmpwZyIECAEQD0ABYglDSDEzNzQ0NDk-~/2RRM1TCR4E_2/U3pC3MH7XsVKxSeH/CH1374449.jpg)
Image 4 - CH1499698.jpg ) https://collections.carnegiehall.org/Assets/V2/ChFDSDFTNTAwMDAwMDAwMDAwNRIDVFIxGhpcVFIxXGFcMVwzXDNcQ0gxNDk5Njk4LmpwZyIECAEQD0ABYglDSDE0OTk2OTg-~/2RRM1T7YX5AV/xAjwGdk0aAVXUQFl/CH1499698.jpg)
Image 5 - CH19585.jpg (https://collections.carnegiehall.org/Assets/V2/ChFDSDFTNTAwMDAwMDAwMDAwNRIDVFIxGhhcVFIxXGRcMlw2XDhcQ0gxOTU4NS5qcGciBAgBEA9AAWIHQ0gxOTU4NQ--~/2RRM1T84U4U4/28kpk6lU376kULyM/CH19585.jpg))
Image 6 - CH1499386.jpg (https://collections.carnegiehall.org/Assets/V2/ChFDSDFTNTAwMDAwMDAwMDAwNRIDVFIxGhpcVFIxXDdcMFw3XDBcQ0gxNDk5Mzg2LmpwZyIECAEQD0ABYglDSDE0OTkzODY-~/2RRM1T7YNRPH/BlJAzzTugYLZpToS/CH1499386.jpg)
Image 7 - CH1499025.jpg (https://collections.carnegiehall.org/Assets/V2/ChFDSDFTNTAwMDAwMDAwMDAwNRIDVFIxGhpcVFIxXGRcMFw5XDhcQ0gxNDk5MDI1LmpwZyIECAEQD0ABYglDSDE0OTkwMjU-~/2RRM1T7YNC3M/HPNkLq5G76sPMILj/CH1499025.jpg)
Image 8 - CH1499733.jpg (https://collections.carnegiehall.org/Assets/V2/ChFDSDFTNTAwMDAwMDAwMDAwNRIDVFIxGhpcVFIxXDVcM1xlXDZcQ0gxNDk5NzMzLmpwZyIECAEQD0ABYglDSDE0OTk3MzM-~/2RRM1T7Y5F8L/ljV1LIEO_kllodsG/CH1499733.jpg)
Image 9 - Drawing, Design for Stained Glass Windows- Chamber Music Hall - Back of Stage, Carnegie Hall, New York, NY, late 19th century (CH 18733231).jpg (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/Drawing%2C_Design_for_Stained_Glass_Windows-_Chamber_Music_Hall_-_Back_of_Stage%2C_Carnegie_Hall%2C_New_York%2C_NY%2C_late_19th_century_%28CH_18733231%29.jpg)
Image 10 - Carnegie_Hall_Decoration_(4683331152).jpg (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a7/Carnegie_Hall_Decoration_%284683331152%29.jpg)
Image 11 - Isaac Stern Auditorium-Carnegie Hall-2.jpg (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/Isaac_Stern_Auditorium-Carnegie_Hall-2.jpg)
Creative Commons or other copyright information
Image 1 - Creative Commons
Image 2 - Creative Commons
Image 3 - Carnegie Hall Rose Archives
Image 4 - Carnegie Hall Rose Archives
Image 5 - Carnegie Hall Rose Archives
Image 6 - Carnegie Hall Rose Archives
Image 7 - Carnegie Hall Rose Archives
Image 8 - Carnegie Hall Rose Archives
Image 9 - Creative Commons
Image 10 - Creative Commons
Image 11 - Creative Commons
Student First and Last Name
Moanna Dixson
Bibliographic references for the item
https://www.carnegiehall.org/About/Building-Overview/Stern-Auditorium-Perelman-Stage
https://www.carnegiehall.org/About/History/Timeline#1800s
https://www.carnegiehall.org/About/History
https://www.carnegiehall.org/About/Rentals/Performance-Halls/Weill-Recital-Hall
https://www.carnegiehall.org/About/Rentals/Performance-Halls/Zankel-Hall
https://www.carnegiehall.org/About/Rentals/Performance-Halls/Stern-Auditorium-Perelman-Stage
https://www.carnegiehall.org/About/Rentals/Event-Spaces/Rose-Museum
https://www.carnegiehall.org/Explore/Articles/2020/07/21/Carnegie-Hall-Legendary-Acoustics
https://www.carnegiehall.org/Explore/Articles/2020/11/06/Carnegie-Halls-Stained-Glass-Windows
Citation
Architect - William Burnet Tuthill and Builder - Andrew Carnegie, “Carnegie Hall,” World Architecture, accessed June 28, 2026, https://worldarchitecture.artinterp2.org/items/show/71.
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