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McCaw Hall: Seattle's Premier Performing Arts Venue

Experience world-class opera, ballet, and more at Seattle's McCaw Hall, a premier performing arts venue in the heart of Seattle Center.

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McCaw Hall, located in Seattle Center, is a state-of-the-art performing arts hall that hosts Seattle Opera and Pacific Northwest Ballet, as well as various concerts, lectures, and events [2, 5]. With a rich history dating back to the 1920s, the hall offers excellent sightlines and acoustics in an elegant and flexible space [2, 5, 15].

A brief summary to McCaw Hall

Local tips

  • Arrive early to enjoy pre-show discussions and dining options, including the in-house Prelude restaurant [3].
  • Consider taking public transportation or using a ride-sharing service to avoid parking hassles [3, 14].
  • Check the McCaw Hall website or Seattle Opera/Pacific Northwest Ballet for event-specific prohibited items [3].
  • Purchase pre-paid parking at the Mercer Street Garage to guarantee a spot and potentially save money [12].
  • Explore the Seattle Center grounds before or after the show, including the International Fountain and other attractions [2].
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Getting There

  • Walking

    From the Space Needle, walk south along the Seattle Center grounds towards Mercer Street. McCaw Hall will be on your right, marked by its distinctive five-story serpentine glass wall and metal scrims. The main entrance is accessible from the Kreielsheimer Promenade. No cost.

  • Public Transport

    From downtown Seattle, take the Seattle Center Monorail from Westlake Center to the Seattle Center station [8, 14]. From the station, walk south towards Mercer Street; McCaw Hall will be on your right. Alternatively, several bus routes (1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 13, 32, 62, and Rapid Ride D) stop within a few blocks of McCaw Hall [8, 20]. Check King County Metro for specific routes and schedules. Monorail fare is $3.25 for adults [8, 14]. Bus fares vary depending on distance traveled, but a typical adult single ride within Seattle is $2.75 [8].

  • Driving

    From I-5, take the Mercer Street exit (167) and proceed west [14]. Turn right onto 4th Avenue North or 3rd Avenue North. The Mercer Street Garage, located across the street from McCaw Hall, offers covered parking with a skybridge connection [7, 12]. Several surface lots are also available on either side of Mercer Street between 3rd and 1st Avenues [7, 13]. Parking rates at the Mercer Street Garage vary but typically range from $35-$40 for event parking [7, 12]. Surface lots may offer slightly lower rates. Consider booking parking in advance using SpotHero [9, 22].

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Discover more about McCaw Hall

Marion Oliver McCaw Hall, located in the heart of Seattle Center, is the Emerald City's premier venue for opera, ballet, and a wide array of performing arts [5]. This modern hall is the result of a $127 million renovation of the Seattle Opera House, completed in June 2003 [5]. The hall is named in honor of Marion Oliver McCaw, whose sons donated $20 million to fund the renovation [4]. Originally built as the Civic Auditorium in 1928, the building was significantly renovated for the 1962 World's Fair and became known as the Seattle Center Opera House [2, 4]. In 2002, a dramatic transformation began, retaining only 30% of the original structure [2]. The renovated McCaw Hall boasts a state-of-the-art 2,900-seat auditorium, the Susan Brotman Auditorium, as well as the 400-seat Nesholm Family Lecture Hall [5]. The design, by LMN Architects, emphasizes elegance, flexibility, and functionality [5, 15]. McCaw Hall is home to Seattle Opera and Pacific Northwest Ballet, who together present approximately 150 performances each year [5]. The hall also hosts a variety of other events, including popular music concerts, lectures, corporate meetings, receptions, weddings, and community events [5, 10]. The Kreielsheimer Promenade, a 17,800-square-foot public plaza, serves as a grand entrance to McCaw Hall and Seattle Center [2, 5]. The promenade features nine 30-foot tall metal scrims with a lighting installation titled 'Dreaming in Color' by Leni Schwendinger [2, 15, 24]. Inside, the lobbies are designed to minimize the separation between exterior and interior spaces, creating an inviting atmosphere for audiences [5]. The hall also incorporates environmentally sustainable design features to minimize resource use and its carbon footprint [5, 17]. McCaw Hall stands as a testament to Seattle's commitment to the arts and provides a world-class venue for a diverse range of performances and events [5, 18].

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