Main Lobby
The grand domed rotunda where Art Deco elegance meets neoclassical and Georgian detail.
The main lobby of Severance Hall is the grand, domed rotunda that serves as the front entrance to the concert venue. Designed by the Cleveland firm Walker & Weeks, this space greets visitors at the intersection of Euclid Avenue and East Boulevard. The lobby features a primarily Art Deco interior with neoclassical and Georgian influences, highlighted by marble columns and elegant decorative motifs. It is the primary public entry point into the building, leading to the main auditorium and various service spaces arranged in a conjoined fan layout.
Lore & Background
The main lobby of Severance Hall was conceived as part of the original 1931 design by the Cleveland architectural firm Walker & Weeks, which also designed Cleveland’s Federal Reserve Bank and Public Library. Inside, the Grand Foyer is surrounded by marble columns and features an Art Deco style with neoclassical and Georgian influences. The interior of Severance Hall showcases a variety of architectural styles, primarily Art Deco, with the main concert hall featuring a silvery aluminum leaf ceiling with designs based on 18th-century English point lace. The lobby serves as the grand entrance to a venue that opened on February 5, 1931, hosting a gala concert broadcast live across the radio. The building is named for patrons John L. Severance and his wife, Elisabeth Huntingdon DeWitt Severance, and was built with a $1 million pledge from John Severance, which eventually ballooned to more than $2.6 million.
Reader's Guide
The lobby features a variety of architectural styles, including Art Deco and elements of Egyptian Revival, with marble columns and decorations of papyrus and lotus flower patterns used throughout. The lobby is part of a building that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of Cleveland’s Wade Park District. In addition to serving as the Cleveland Orchestra’s home, Severance Hall is available to rent for concerts, weddings, corporate events, and receptions. On the ground floor is Reinberger Chamber Hall, a separate 402-seat auditorium frequently used for more intimate performances and pre-concert lectures.
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Elsewhere in Severance
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