MPR’s Bob Potter talks with architect Hugh Hardy, who designed Orchestra Hall. Hardy discusses the issue of acoustics and capacity. He says the new building might not have been built if the Lycium Theatre had been a little bigger.

In 1974, Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis was dedicated and an opening night concert was broadcast live on Minnesota Public Radio and across the country. Dennis Rooney hosted the program which featured interviews with people at the concert including Minneapolis Star Columnist Barbara Flanagan. Until that night, the Minnesota Orchestra had to play at various auditoriums around the Twin Cities.