Dolby Theater
Home to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Oscars
Los Angeles, California | Performing Arts | 2001 | with David Rockwell, Altoon and Porter
“The Kodak Theatre has succeeded from the start, winning a prestigious award for great acoustics and design and filling up with 207 bookings last year, including concert dates by Paul McCartney and Barbra Streisand.”
Even if you’ve never been to Hollywood, you’ve probably seen the Dolby Theater. Located at Hollywood & Highland in Los Angeles, the $615 million performance venue is the permanent home for the Academy Awards® ceremonies, televised annually to millions of people around the globe. The Dolby Theater is the main attraction of the Hollywood & Highland project, a landmark entertainment complex on Hollywood Boulevard. The theater has one of the largest stages in the country and can seat up to 3,500 in a flexible configuration that includes three balcony levels and 24 private boxes.
Opened in November 2001, numerous high-profile live theatrical and concert events have been held at the Dolby Theater, including the American Ballet Theater’s production of The Nutcracker, Sesame Street Live and the Moscow Stanislavsky Ballet. In addition, Barbra Streisand, Prince, Celine Dion, the Dixie Chicks, Stevie Wonder, Harry Connick Jr., Barry Manilow, Melissa Etheridge and Elvis Costello have all performed live concerts in the theater.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences hired Robert F. Mahoney & Associates to design the Dolby Theater’s acoustics to meet the highest technical standards of the Academy for acoustics, sound isolation and noise control.
The work perfecting the venue’s acoustics has paid off handsomely. In February 2003, the Dolby Theater was named Theater of the Year at the 14th Annual Pollstar Concert Industry Awards Ceremony. In winning this prestigious award, the Dolby Theater defeated other highly regarded venues, including the Beacon Theatre in New York City, the Chicago Theatre in Chicago, the Fox Theatre in Atlanta and the Universal Amphitheatre in Universal City, California.