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 15.4-hectare site. It houses a 2023-seat Symphony Orchestra Concert Hall (Main Hall), a 500-seat Blue Hall (Chamber Orchestra Concert Hall), a 683-seat Historical 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 design competition in 1992 and designed by Uygur Architecture, was constructed according to the principles of natural acoustics. Recognized as the first concert hall in Türkiye specifically built for symphonic music, it is regarded as a high-quality cultural center both architecturally and technically at national and international levels.

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

The historical 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.

^{Historical CSO Building (}Salt Research⁾

In May 2021, restoration work began on the historical building, renewing its backstage and foyer areas and completing landscape improvements. After the restoration was completed, the building reopened to the public on 10 November 2021 with a concert commemorating Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the opening concert, performed by the Presidential Symphony Orchestra and the State Choir. Today, the Historical CSO Building serves as the concert hall for the State Choir and also hosts performances by cultural ensembles affiliated with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

^{Historical 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 design competition held in 1992. Among the 46 submitted entries, the winning design was prepared by Uygur Architecture. The jury included prominent architects of the era: Doğan Tekeli, Nejat Ersin, Orhan Dinç, İlhami Ural, Doruk Pamir, Nuran Ünsal, and Ali Terzibaşıoğlu.

Construction, which began after the competition, remained incomplete for many years due to various reasons. The project, whose foundation was laid 23 years ago, faced delays caused by feasibility issues and problems with contractors during different periods. The project 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 participation 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 (}Republic of Türkiye Communication Directorate⁾

The architectural design aimed not to adopt a contemporary style but to create a symbolic gesture that would endure over time at the urban scale. The ensemble as a whole presents a holistic design approach through its original form, integration with the topography, and relationship 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 roles as the central hub. The city room opens into the 2023-seat elliptical Symphony Orchestra Concert Hall and the 500-seat spherical Blue Hall. This transparent glass volume is equipped with specialized glazing technology that ensures efficient daylighting while minimizing the greenhouse effect.

^{Symphony Orchestra Concert Hall (}Republic of Türkiye Communication Directorate⁾

The concert 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 spectators on elevated, tiered levels to ensure equal sightlines and acoustic experience for all attendees.

The reinforced concrete shell structures of the halls were executed using the inflatable (pneumatic) formwork technique, a first-time application in Türkiye. This innovative engineering approach ensures both structural integrity and aesthetic unity of the building.

The acoustic consultancy for the project was led by Professor Wolfgang Fasold in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics. All halls were designed strictly in accordance with the principles of natural acoustics.

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