Carol Morsani Hall, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Tampa Bay, Florida, USA

Carol Morsani Hall is the largest of the five theaters at the David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts. Construction of this facility commenced in April 1984. Only three years later, in September of 1987, the center was formally opened with gala performances by the National Ballet of Canada, the Florida Orchestra, and singers of the New York City Opera. The center, situated on nine acres in downtown Tampa on the banks of the Hillsborough River, includes Carol Morsani Hall, Louise Ferguson Theatre, Jaeb Studio Theatre, Shimberg Playhouse, and a large rehearsal hall.

The 2500-seat Carol Morsani Hall is an Artec-designed concert theater used for a wide range of performances. These include headline acts, ballet, musical theater, and opera. The hall is also the home of the Florida Orchestra. In concert mode, an "acoustical wall," constructed of wood mounted on a steel frame is lowered and the orchestra performs downstage of it. This wall also serves as the safety curtain. Variable acoustics devices include a large acoustic canopy containing theatrical and concert lighting, and a motorized acoustic control curtains and banners.

Artec provided Design and Planning services covering Pre-Design Phase services, Auditorium Design, Background Noise and Vibration Control and Facility Planning consulting services for the David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts. The architect for the Center was D. Fred Lebensold, ARCOP.