The Ordway Concert Hall is a state-of-the-art performance and recording venue that was brought to life by the Ordway’s principal resident organizations: Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, Minnesota Opera, The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, and The Schubert Club. The world-class Concert Hall was designed specifically for the presentation of acoustic and electro-acoustic music in a beautifully intimate setting. The space creates a visceral and direct connection — an artistic conversation — between the audience and the artists with no seat more than 90 feet from the stage.

Groundbreaking for the Concert Hall took place in Spring 2013 to replace the 300-seat McKnight Theatre. The new space officially opened on March 1, 2015. The 1,100-seat state-of-the-art facility is a ‘shoebox’ style concert hall where there is no separation between the performance platform and the audience. Acoustic dampening curtains can be drawn to enhance percussive or amplified programming. Reverberation time of the Concert Hall has been designed to showcase small ensembles, especially The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra.

The Ordway aims to reflect the communities it serves on its stages, in its audiences, and in its breakrooms and boardrooms. The organization is also deeply committed to addressing barriers to participation that can restrict access to the performing arts for schoolchildren, adults, and organizations.

The organization works proactively to ensure that everyone can take part in and shape its programs — both in the community and at the Ordway—as well as participate in its workforce and activities.