Presidency Symphony Orchestra Concert Hall

Presidential Symphony Orchestra Concert Hall is a concert and cultural complex built for the Presidential Symphony Orchestra (CSO) and designed for multi-purpose use. Located between Ankara Castle and Anıtkabir, the structure occupies a site of 15.4 hectares. It houses a 2023-seat Symphony Orchestra Concert Hall (Main Hall), a 500-seat Blue Hall (Chamber Orchestra Concert Hall), a 683-seat Historic CSO Hall, an open-air concert area, a museum, exhibition spaces, a restaurant, a cafeteria, and an underground parking facility for 800 vehicles.

The building, selected through a national architectural competition in 1992 and designed by Uygur Architecture, was constructed according to the principles of natural acoustics. Recognized as both an architectural and technical landmark at national and international levels, it is the first concert hall in Türkiye specifically built for symphonic music.

^{Presidential Symphony Orchestra Concert Hall (}Anadolu Agency⁾

The historic building of the Presidential Symphony Orchestra (CSO) served as the orchestra’s home from 29 October 1961 until 3 December 2020. With a capacity of 683 seats, it functioned as the orchestra’s primary concert hall for approximately 60 years. Following the CSO’s relocation to its new concert hall in 2020, the building was temporarily taken out of service.

^{Historic CSO Building (}Only Research⁾

In May 2021, restoration work began on the historic building, during which backstage and foyer areas were renovated and surrounding landscaping completed. After the restoration, the building reopened to the public on 10 November 2021 with a concert commemorating Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended this inaugural concert, performed by the Presidential Symphony Orchestra and the State Choir. Today, the Historic CSO Building serves as the concert hall for the State Choir and also hosts performances by resident ensembles affiliated with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

^{Historic CSO Building After Restoration (}CSO ADA ANKARA⁾

The foundation for the new concert hall of the Presidential Symphony Orchestra was laid through a national architectural competition held in 1992. The winning design, submitted by Uygur Architecture, was selected from among 46 entries. The jury included prominent architects of the era: Doğan Tekeli, Nejat Ersin, Orhan Dinç, İlhami Ural, Doruk Pamir, Nuran Ünsal, and Ali Terzibaşıoğlu.

The construction process that followed the competition faced prolonged delays due to various reasons. The project, whose foundation was laid 23 years ago, stalled over time due to feasibility issues and problems with contractors. It was revived and completed following directives from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and initiatives by Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy.

The inauguration of the new building of the Presidential Symphony Orchestra took place on 3 December 2020 with the attendance of President Erdoğan. On the same day, the CSO gave its first concert in the new hall. Renowned artists Angela Gheorghiu and Güher and Süher Pekinel performed at the gala concerts held on 3–4 December 2020 as part of the opening events. Recordings of the opening concerts were archived by Mezzo TV for publication over a five-year period.

^{Presidential Symphony Orchestra Complex (}Presidency of Communications of the Republic of Türkiye⁾

The architectural design aims to establish a symbolic presence at the urban scale that will not age over time, rather than adopting a contemporary style. The ensemble as a whole offers a holistic design approach, distinguished by its original form, harmony with the topography, and integration with the urban fabric, both architecturally and culturally.

The building’s distinctive form is defined as a “city room,” a triangular prismatic volume that serves both symbolic and functional purposes as a central hub. The city room opens into the 2023-seat Symphony Orchestra Concert Hall, designed in an elliptical shape, and the 500-seat Blue Hall, with a spherical form. This transparent glass volume is equipped with specialized glazing technology that optimizes natural light intake while minimizing the greenhouse effect.

^{Symphony Orchestra Concert Hall (}Presidency of Communications of the Republic of Türkiye⁾

The halls were constructed below ground level to optimize both acoustic performance and thermal insulation. The seating arrangement follows the “vineyard” model, positioning musicians at the center while placing audiences on tiered, elevated levels to ensure equal sightlines and an immersive auditory experience for all spectators.

The concrete shell structures of the concert halls were constructed using the inflatable (pneumatic) formwork technique, applied for the first time in Türkiye. This technique offers an innovative engineering approach that ensures both the structural and aesthetic integrity of the building.

The acoustic consultation for the building was led by Professor Wolfgang Fasold in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics; all halls were designed in accordance with the principles of natural acoustics.

The Presidential Symphony Orchestra Concert Hall Campus has been designed as a multifunctional cultural and artistic island. Built on an area of approximately 15.4 hectares, the campus is planned to host events by various artistic ensembles, primarily the Presidential Symphony Orchestra. The main components of the campus are as follows: