The Kennedy Center
Name of Building
The Kennedy Center
Town or City, Country where the building was originally established
Washington, D.C.
Date the building was designed and/or first built
Start of Fundraising: January 29, 1959
Start of Construction: December 11, 1965
Building Opened: September 8, 1971
Name of Architect, Builder, or Primary Patron Responsible
Architect: Edward Durell Stone
Structural Engineer: Severud Associates
Culturally Specific Time Period
20th Century
Geo-Location
38°53'45"N 77°03'20"W
Materials
Concrete
Steel
Size and/or Scale of Building
60,000 square feet
Architectural Type
Public
Formal Style
Modern architecture
Building Description
The Kennedy Center’s layout is rectangular. On the outside of the building, there are tall, thin steel pillars in a golden shade. These pillars run along each side of the Kennedy Center, adding drama and dimension to its facade. The building itself is built of a white concrete, with walls that tower over the visitors and a large overhang that is supported by the pillars. Along the two longer sides of the building are windows that stretch floor to ceiling. On top of the basic structure, there is a slightly smaller, and much shorter, upper level of the building. This second level has windows evenly dispersed along each side. There are two different main entrances, one on each side of the building with windows. As one walks into the Kennedy Center, they are met with bright red carpet, dramatic chandeliers, and mirrors covering the walls opposite the entrance. The high ceilings in the structure add to its elegance and charm. There are three main performance rooms in the building, the Concert Hall, the Opera House, and the Eisenhower Theatre. Each of these rooms are decorated elegantly, with large stages and plenty of seating. There are two hallways separating these rooms and connecting one side of the building to the other. It is in these hallways that giant flags hang from the ceiling, representing different states and nations. The Kennedy Center stands as a place to appreciate the arts, acknowledge American history, and to enjoy a night out in Washington, D.C.. The materials chosen allow for an elegant theme and charming exterior. The Kennedy Center both harbors notes of political authority and social status with its architecture, all while touching on the sight and sound of the viewer.
Image source
Image 1: Kennedy Center - panoramio (cropped).jpg (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8a/Kennedy_Center_-_panoramio_%28cropped%29.jpg)
Image 2: Kennedy_Center_(46399777861).jpg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Kennedy_Center_%2846399777861%29.jpg
Image 3: Kennedy_center_diagram.svg.png https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._Kennedy_Center_for_the_Performing_Arts#/media/File:Kennedy_center_diagram.svg
Image 4: John_F._Kennedy_Center,_interior_000_0017.jpg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c2/John_F._Kennedy_Center%2C_interior_000_0017.jpg
Image 5: Messiah_Sing-Along_at_Kennedy_Center_2023_01.jpg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ee/Messiah_Sing-Along_at_Kennedy_Center_2023_01.jpg
Image 6: Kennedy_Center_(53844537746).jpg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b6/Kennedy_Center_%2853844537746%29.jpg
Creative Commons or other copyright information
Image 1: Creative Commons
Image 2: Creative Commons
Image 3: Creative Commons
Image 4: Public Domain
Image 5: Creative Commons
Image 6: Creative Commons
Student First and Last Name
Hannah Demory
Bibliographic references for the item
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._Kennedy_Center_for_the_Performing_Arts
Citation
Architect: Edward Durell Stone and Structural Engineer: Severud Associates , “The Kennedy Center,” World Architecture, accessed June 28, 2026, https://worldarchitecture.artinterp2.org/items/show/92.
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