Bing Concert Hall History

On January 11, 2013, after two years of construction, Stanford Live inaugurated its glorious new home at Bing Concert Hall and launched a new era in the performing arts at Stanford University.

Opening night at the Bing featured performances by members of the Stanford Chamber Chorale, Stanford Symphony Orchestra, and Stanford Philharmonia Orchestra, all under the direction of Stephen Sano; artists-in-residence the St. Lawrence String Quartet; and the San Francisco Symphony under the baton of Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas with special guest mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade. The opening night kicked off a weekend-long celebration of seven concerts in three days involving over 700 performers.

Since then, the Bing has welcomed such artists as Anna Deavere Smith, Yo-Yo Ma, and Kristin Chenoweth; had 14 world premieres (including nine by Stanford composers); issued 22,000 student tickets; and attracted more than 200,000 people to its events. From its uniquely beautiful architectural elements to its acoustic flexibility, the Bing is a key landmark in the newly finished Stanford Arts District, located at the gates of the university campus.

Bing Concert Hall by the Numbers

Concert Hall
Seating capacity: 842–923 seats
Size of stage: 3,190 square feet
Stage Dimensions: 73’-0” wide x 54’-0” long
Distance from artists to seats: No more than 75 feet

Bing Studio
Room Size: 2,375 square feet
Room Dimensions: 57'-8" wide x 41'-2" long

Site
Total Area of Site: 5.5 acres (240,000 sq. ft)

Building
Total Square Feet: 112,365 square feet
Building Height: 56’-11”

Architecture and Design

Architects: Ennead Architects
Design Partner: Richard Olcott
Acoustics: Nagata Acoustics America Inc.
Theater: Fisher Dachs Associates
 

By the numbers

Workforce to Design and Build the Hall
Number of Design Professionals: 80
Hours of Stanford Staff: 4,000
Number of Construction Workers: 1,085

Bing goes green
Number of Relocated Trees: 58 (boxed and saved)
Number of New Trees: 67
Number of New Shrubs: 4,550

Bing Concert Hall Building Donors

Helen and Peter Bing ’55

The Bings have a long and distinguished history of supporting Stanford faculty, students, patients, and the campus environment. Through their wide-ranging philanthropy and service, they have encouraged superior teaching and vital research and touched the lives of countless undergraduates by enriching myriad education programs, athletics, and the libraries. Their commitment to the arts includes generous support for the Department of Music, Stanford Symphony Orchestra, Stanford Chamber Chorale, and the St. Lawrence String Quartet’s residency, as well as for the Cantor Arts Center and art collections at the hospitals and Bing Nursery School.

Additionally, Stanford University gratefully acknowledges the following donors for their generous support of the construction of Bing Concert Hall: