Wikimedia Commons · J. Ash Bowie · CC BY-SA 3.0Archived planning records place the Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall within the Civic Center performing-arts complex. A 1994 Civic Center cultural-facilities study lists the hall's seating capacity as 2,743, identifies it as home of the San Francisco Symphony under War Memorial trustee control, and notes "approximately 30 days per year are available for rental." A 1997 School of the Arts environmental report records an evening performance drawing 2,420 in the "2,743-seat" hall, and a 1986 newspaper announces an "East Meets West" concert held there. Davies Hall is operated by the War Memorial (WAR) department, whose FY2025 budget is about $30M; the file records 60 building permits totaling about $10.6M in declared cost, including a 1992 acoustic-improvement permit declared at $5,000,000.
Archive coverage for this place is limited — only 3 matched documents so far, so this summary stays short rather than padded.
City Facilities registry · parcel 0810001 · Supervisor District 5
Construction permits on this parcel
- Phase ii of ongoing acoustic improvements & mis. renovations1992 · expired$5.0M
- Demo extg office and convert to two ada accessible toilet rooms. build new ada compliant ramp. install new damper in extg…2013 · complete$850,000
- Davies symphony hall, boiler upgrade, chiller upgrade, vfd, piping retrofit. intake and exhaust louvers. new openings in…2010 · complete$760,000
- Acoustic modifications1991 · expired$675,000
- 5th floor - hvac controll upgrade througout entire buiding.2003 · issued$350,000
- Replacement of existing fire alarm system1999 · expired$300,000
Paid for work here
- Kone IncFY2024$633,380
Figures come from different city ledgers (voter bonds, contracts, permits) and are not additive — a bond fund pays the contracts for the same job. Sources: SF GO Bond program, vendor vouchers, building permits (DataSF).
Operated by the War Memorial & Performing Arts — department budget $30.2M, 103 staff citywide (FY2025), not this place’s own.
The 3 documents behind the summary above, held at the Internet Archive — Democracy’s Library plus IA’s San Francisco Public Library partnership scans. Every link opens the scanned page with the match highlighted.
- School of the Arts master plan : draft environmental impact report · 1997 ↗
A 1997 School of the Arts draft EIR whose parking analysis records Davies Hall's 2,743-seat capacity and an evening performance drawing 2,420 people (an 88 percent attendance rate).
San Francisco Unified School DistrictInternet Archive — San Francisco Public Library partnership scans
- Civic Center study : cultural facilities plan, issues and finding report : draft for citizen review · 1994 ↗
A 1994 Civic Center cultural-facilities study listing Davies Hall's 2,743 seats, its role as the San Francisco Symphony's home, War Memorial trustee control, and roughly 30 rental days a year.
San Francisco (Calif.). Dept. of City PlanningInternet Archive — San Francisco Public Library partnership scans - East/West · 1986 ↗
A 1986 East/West newspaper announcement of an 'East Meets West' symphonic concert held at the Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall on March 7-8.
East/West Pub. Co.Internet Archive — San Francisco Public Library partnership scans
City budget & payments: SF Controller open data (budget, vouchers, contracts) · Historical documents: Internet Archive — SFPL partnership scans + Democracy's Library
