Regarded by many music-lovers as one of the world’s most beautiful concert halls, Severance opened in 1931 as the home of The Cleveland Orchestra. Today, the main concert hall is known as the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Concert Hall.
The building’s architectural significance has been recognized by local and national preservation societies, including the Cleveland Landmarks Commission and the National Register of Historic Places, and Severance is a recipient of the Honor Award by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Designed by the Cleveland architectural firm Walker & Weeks, the building is named for John L. Severance and his wife, Elisabeth, who initially pledged $1 million for its construction. Elisabeth died unexpectedly early in the design process, and John Severance made additional contributions toward the building in her memory.
A $36-million restoration and expansion of Severance was completed in January 2000. The two-year Renovation Project was undertaken to restore the hall’s original detailing, expand its patron amenities and services, retain and enhance its legendary acoustics, and to update its performance and support spaces to once again provide a state-of-the-art home for the Orchestra. The highest goal of the project, designed by David M. Schwarz Architectural Services of Washington D.C., was the preservation of Severance’s acclaimed beauty and architectural integrity.
On September 30, 2021, it was announced that the main performance space would be named the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Concert Hall, in recognition of the historic $50-million grant from the Cleveland-based Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation