County
Salt Lake
Year Built
1979
Architect
FFKR Architects (Bob Fowler, lead architect); acoustical design by Dr. Cyril M. Harris
National Register?
Yes, listed 2024 under the criteria for exceptional importance
Status
Saved
Status Explanation
Abravanel Hall is considered saved because of two major actions. First, the Salt Lake County Council passed a bipartisan resolution to preserve the building, clearly rejecting earlier proposals to demolish or move it. Second, Abravanel Hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places in late 2024, meeting special criteria for exceptional importance before reaching the usual 50-year mark. A plaque unveiling ceremony took place on February 11, 2026, with county leaders, Utah Symphony musicians, and Carolyn Abravanel, the widow of the hall’s namesake, in attendance. Mayor Jenny Wilson and county arts and culture leaders have said the hall will stay a cultural anchor in the growing Sports, Entertainment, Culture, and Convention District. MHTN Architects and Populous Holdings are planning renovations for Abravanel Hall, the nearby Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Salt Palace Convention Center, with a promise to protect the hall’s top-tier acoustics.
About the Threat
The main threat that led to Abravanel Hall’s 2024 listing, which was the risk of demolition or removal for the Sports, Entertainment, Culture, and Convention District project, has been resolved. Thanks to the County Council’s preservation resolution and the National Register listing, the building will stay where it is.
The main concern now is the renovation. Salt Lake County has promised to protect the hall’s world-class acoustics and its unique architecture, but the renovation is expected to cost about $200 million and design work is still in the early stages. In September 2025, MHTN Architects and Populous Holdings were chosen to lead planning for the Salt Palace Convention Center overhaul, which includes Abravanel Hall. Details about changes to the hall’s interior, structure, and systems have not been shared yet. A renovation this large could permanently damage the hall’s acoustics, which are the reason for its National Register status and the community’s push to save it, unless the work follows the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards.
Being on the National Register does not stop a public owner from demolishing or making major changes to a building it owns. The main benefit of the listing is that it allows access to federal historic tax credits, but Salt Lake County cannot use these credits directly without a private partner, and no partner has been announced. If the renovation does not follow a certified rehabilitation process, SHPO review is not required and there is no federal oversight to make sure the hall’s important features are protected during construction.
Access
Abravanel Hall is open and serves as the home of the Utah Symphony. The hall has 2,811 seats and hosts over 175 symphonic and chamber music performances each year. The four-story glass lobby, with views of Temple Square and the Wasatch Range and featuring Dale Chihuly’s Olympic Tower glass sculpture, is open to the public.
History
Abravanel Hall is open and serves as the home of the Utah Symphony. The hall has 2,811 seats and hosts over 175 symphonic and chamber music performances each year. The four-story glass lobby, with views of Temple Square and the Wasatch Range and featuring Dale Chihuly’s Olympic Tower glass sculpture, is open to the public.
What can be done? What was learned?
The effort to save Abravanel Hall teaches several lessons. First, organized advocacy from people close to a building can really make a difference. Utah Symphony musicians led the National Register nomination, hired a consultant, and kept the public focused on the issue throughout 2024. Second, community pressure and a formal National Register listing helped create the right political climate for a bipartisan preservation resolution, even while big redevelopment plans were happening nearby. Third, the exceptional importance rule for National Register eligibility is a real option. Buildings less than 50 years old with outstanding architectural or cultural value can qualify, and this case shows that acoustical and engineering significance can support that argument.
The main issue now is the renovation. Being on the National Register does not prevent major changes if a public agency owns the building. Protecting Abravanel Hall’s acoustics, which are central to its national importance and community support, should be a top priority in the renovation.
What is the timeline?
The building is scheduled for renovation as part of the larger Salt Palace Convention Center project, which could start as soon as 2027. MHTN Architects and Populous Holdings were hired in September 2025 to lead the design. The renovation is expected to cost about $200 million. County leaders have promised to protect the hall’s acoustics, which are the reason for its national importance and the community’s efforts to save it, while also improving backstage areas for musicians, performers, and guests. The National Register listing allows for the possibility of federal historic tax credits, but Salt Lake County cannot use these credits directly. The county would need a private partner to access them, and as of May 2026, no such partnership has been announced. The renovation plans, funding, and design will need careful oversight to make sure the preservation promise is kept.
What has been the public discussion?
People started worrying about Abravanel Hall’s future as soon as plans for the Sports, Entertainment, Culture, and Convention District were announced in May 2024. A petition to save the hall spread quickly. Utah Symphony musicians led the push to get the hall on the National Register, with consultant Adrienne White presenting the findings to the Salt Lake City Historic Landmark Commission. The nomination moved quickly through state and federal reviews and was finalized in late 2024. The County Council passed a bipartisan resolution to preserve the hall just before it was listed. The plaque ceremony on February 11, 2026, brought together county leaders, Utah Symphony musicians, and Carolyn Abravanel and was covered by Deseret News, KSL, and ABC4. Violinist Karen Wyatt told the crowd, "Please know that your calls and your emails and your presence and tenacity made a difference."
Links to more information and articles.
Salt Lake County press release, January 29, 2026 — plaque unveiling announcement: https://www.saltlakecounty.gov/newsroom/iconic-maurice-abravanel-hall-to-celebrate-official-listing-on-national-register-of-historic-places---newspage/
Deseret News, February 12, 2026 — plaque ceremony coverage: https://www.deseret.com/utah/2026/02/12/abravanel-hall-remains-a-cultural-anchor-in-utahs-future/
KSL, February 11, 2026 — "Abravanel Hall to remain a 'cultural anchor'": https://www.ksl.com/article/51446941/abravanel-hall-to-remain-a-cultural-anchor-in-utahs-future-as-its-past-is-celebrated
ABC4, January 30, 2026 — National Register listing coverage: https://www.abc4.com/news/wasatch-front/abravanel-hall-national-register-historic-places/
KSL, November 2024 — "What does the National Register listing mean for its future?": https://www.ksl.com/article/51192511/abravanel-hall-is-now-a-nationally-recognized-historic-place-what-does-that-mean-for-its-future
KSL, September 2024 — "Abravanel Hall could be given national historic recognition": https://www.ksl.com/article/51116937/abravanel-hall-could-be-given-national-historic-recognition-will-it-save-the-venue-
Save Abravanel Hall petition: https://www.change.org/p/save-abravanel-hall