Steinmetz Hall

World’s Most Acoustically Sophisticated Performance Hall

Steinmetz Hall at the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center, located in downtown Orlando, FL, will be the venue for performance art ranging from symphonies to rock concerts. Proper acoustics within the space are critical... so critical that each of the 1,700 seats will have individualized acoustics that do not rely on amplification systems but can be accomplished through the structural design itself. Known as the “floating building,” the hall is designed with minimal positive concrete connections, allowing the structure to “float” and generating natural amplification. The design involved several features that were challenging to construct. There are multiple 80-ft. tall free-standing walls, with bases 70 ft. off the ground. Architectural walls with pilasters and scallops, not to mention sloped radius seating on the balconies and an existing structure that stands 4 inches from the performance hall, made for complicated geometries. Fortunately, Doka’s Top 50 wall formwork can be adapted to suit a variety of shapes, sizes, tie hole patterns and pour pressure requirements. A total of 28,000 sq. ft. of preassembled Top 50 formwork was used to construct Steinmetz Hall. This includes 1,900 sq. ft. of custom radius steel formwork used to help construct the balcony seating and façade and 135 preassembled MF240 rollback climbing platforms for tall areas of the structure. For loadbearing applications, Staxo towers and 10k shoring systems were used in conjunction with Dokaflex floor slab formwork. Worker access to all work-deck levels was facilitated by Staxo stair towers. Formwork-related work was supervised by a fulltime, onsite Doka engineer, as well as field service and project management. The project is receiving praise in Orlando’s local press for being “on track [and] on time.”

The Challenge:
There are multiple 80-ft. tall freestanding walls, with bases 70 ft. off the ground that create difficulties. Architectural walls with pilasters and scallops, not to mention sloped radius seating on the balconies and an existing structure that stands 4 inches from the performance hall, made for complicated geometries.

The Solution:
Top 50 wall formwork could be adapted to meet the requirements. For loadbearing applications, Staxo towers and 10k shoring systems were used in conjunction with Dokaflex floor slab formwork. Worker access to all workdeck levels was facilitated by Staxo stair towers.