War Memorial Opera House Seat Replacement Project

Interior of the War Memorial Opera House

December, 2019

Photo by Lisa Hirsch

San Francisco Opera and San Francisco Ballet have just announced the schedule for completing the seat replacement project at the War Memorial Opera House, as well as other details.

Here's the very short version, direct quotes indicated by quotation marks, with the full press release below the cut.

• The seats will be replaced from over 14 weeks between May and August 2021.
• There will be more and better accessible seating.
• The opera house will reopen on September 10 with San Francisco Opera’s 2021–22 season-opening gala. (The season-opening gala will be a new feature, starting with the 2020-21 season, if you weren't already aware of this.)
• "San Francisco Opera’s summer season, typically running June into early July, will move to April 25–May 16, 2021 in the War Memorial Opera House." Details to follow in next week's s season announcement.
• "The new seats, designed to reflect the aesthetics of the Opera House, will be wider, have greater leg room, be positioned at a more comfortable height, and will reflect the latest in ergonomic support. " (Do not ask me how they will wedge in greater leg room in the Grand Tier and Dress Circle, where the front-to-back measurement of each row is a limiting factor.)
• "Sightlines to the stage from the Orchestra section will be improved by the new seat design and a subtle staggering of seats along the center aisle of the theater. "

Previously:

• News You Can Use, War Memorial Opera House Edition
• War Memorial Opera House Seat Replacement Project

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (January 15, 2020) – San Francisco Ballet and San Francisco Opera, in collaboration with the San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center, today shared plans for the final phase of seat replacements within the War Memorial Opera House, the historic Beaux-Arts theater that serves as home to both companies as well as a venue for numerous Bay Area and visiting organizations. Over the spring and summer of 2021, all seats in the Orchestra, Grand Tier and Dress Circle sections of the War Memorial Opera House will be replaced, improving comfort and sightlines in the auditorium. The creation of new accessible seating areas is also included in this final phase, furthering the organizations’ commitment to maximizing accessibility for all patrons.  

Installation of the new seats is scheduled to occur over 14 weeks between May and August 2021. The War Memorial Opera House will reopen on September 10 with San Francisco Opera’s 2021–22 season-opening gala. While preserving the historic integrity, beauty, and acoustics of this cultural landmark, improvements in the theater will include new custom seats, replacing the seats original to the 1932 building (maintenance on these seats over the years has included reupholstering and some renovation to the Orchestra section chairs). The new seats, designed to reflect the aesthetics of the Opera House, will be wider, have greater leg room, be positioned at a more comfortable height, and will reflect the latest in ergonomic support. 

Sightlines to the stage from the Orchestra section will be improved by the new seat design and a subtle staggering of seats along the center aisle of the theater. Improved viewing options for patrons with disabilities and patrons using wheelchairs will be offered with the creation of new accessible seating areas in the left and right Orchestra sections of the house (in addition to existing center rear Orchestra accessible seating). Additional upgrades include new pathway lighting, floor repair and carpet replacement.

In order for both organizations to accommodate the installations while continuing to perform during the venue closure, San Francisco Ballet and San Francisco Opera will adjust the number of weeks they occupy the War Memorial Opera House in 2021. San Francisco Ballet is in discussions with BroadwaySF to present its last two programs of the 2021 season at the Orpheum Theatre. Complete details of SF Ballet’s 2021 Season will be announced in April 2020. San Francisco Opera’s summer season, typically running June into early July, will move to April 25–May 16, 2021 in the War Memorial Opera House. San Francisco Opera’s 2020–21 Season will be announced on January 22, 2020. 

This is the third and final phase of the current War Memorial Opera House seat upgrade initiative, which began in summer 2013 with the replacement of chairs in the Box level of the theater. Balcony and Balcony Circle seats were replaced in summer 2015. The approximately $3.7 million initiative is funded by proceeds accumulated from a facility fee ranging from $1 to $3 based on seating section added to tickets for SF Ballet (effective November 2013) and San Francisco Opera (effective January 2014). The City of San Francisco is funding additional architecture and design services related to the accessible seating portion of the project. The continued enhancement of the patron experience in the Opera House is a priority for both SF Ballet and SF Opera, and future facility fee funds will be used for ongoing patron-focused facility upgrades.

The project is being managed by the San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center in partnership with San Francisco Ballet and San Francisco Opera, with support from theatrical consultant The Shalleck Collaborative and the City’s Department of Public Works. Montreal-based Ducharme Seating, a company with expertise in historical theaters, is designing and manufacturing the seats. Ducharme’s work can be seen in venues such as the David H. Koch Theater in New York’s Lincoln Center, Academy of Music and Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia, Cincinnati Music Hall and The Royal Alexandra in Toronto. FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified, Ducharme Seating is committed to manufacturing products with minimal environmental impact. Threshold Acoustics is engaged to consult on the acoustic impact of the seating upgrade and installation.

For a complete FAQ on the seat upgrade project, please click.