New concert hall in plan for Woodruff Arts Center

In a letter to ASO musicians and major donors written by ASO Vice President for Development Paul Hogle and obtained by the Journal-Constitution, Hogle wrote: "The vote by the board is a significant and enthusiastic endorsement of the Woodruff Arts Center's master planning process for the future of the entire campus over the next 25 years. And from the orchestra's perspective, the context leading to this decision is deeply encouraging."

A new concert hall for the ASO, to replace the art center's acoustically poor Symphony Hall, has been in the works for a decade.

A deluxe Symphony Center, with architecture by celebrated Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, was designed for a 3.3-acre site on 14th Street, just west of Peachtree and a block from the arts center. But fund-raisers for the ASO couldn't meet the $300 million price tag. Some $114 million had been raised before the campaign was halted two years ago.

With a new location and an economic recession, it's not known how many of the original donors would still contribute.

ASO officials were eager to talk privately about the plan but said it was up to the arts center leaders to make all official announcements.

The new master plan, developed by Boston-based Sasaki Associates, looked at nine sites for a concert hall, including one above MARTA's Arts Center station and another directly across Peachtree Street from the center.

Although the ASO has not consulted with architect Calatrava on the site change, his spokeswoman, Claire Whittaker, said a year ago that Calatrava remained committed to the ASO project, noting that the architect is "open to change."