Benaroya Hall is the glass-and-limestone concert hall that has anchored downtown Seattle’s music scene since 1998, built from the ground up to be the Seattle Symphony’s permanent home. It occupies a full city block at 200 University Street and is best known for two things: acoustics engineered specifically for orchestral sound, and a seating capacity large enough to host both a full symphony subscription crowd and touring pop and rock acts.
If you’re trying to figure out how many people Benaroya Hall holds, what its two auditoriums look like inside, or what to expect when you visit — including upcoming non-classical shows like Beck’s stop at the hall — here’s the full picture.
Quick Answer
Benaroya Hall’s main auditorium, the S. Mark Taper Foundation Auditorium, seats 2,500 people. Its smaller Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall seats 536. Combined, the building holds just over 3,000 seats across its two performance spaces. It’s located at 200 University Street in downtown Seattle and serves as the Seattle Symphony’s home, while also hosting touring artists — Beck plays the Taper Auditorium on November 8, 2026.
History and Design
Benaroya Hall opened on September 12, 1998, as the purpose-built home of the Seattle Symphony, replacing the orchestra’s previous space at the Seattle Opera House. It’s named for philanthropists Jack and Becky Benaroya, whose Benaroya Foundation made the largest single gift in the symphony’s history toward the roughly $120 million project.
Seattle-based LMN Architects designed the building, which won the American Institute of Architects’ National Honor Award in 2001. The hall sits directly above what is now the Great Northern Tunnel, served today by Symphony station, and the entire structure rests on rubber isolation pads — an engineering choice that keeps transit noise and vibration out of the performance spaces while also helping the building withstand seismic activity.
Benaroya Hall Seating Capacity
Benaroya Hall has two distinct performance spaces, and its capacity depends on which one you mean. The S. Mark Taper Foundation Auditorium is the main hall used for nearly all full-orchestra Seattle Symphony concerts and for larger touring shows; it seats 2,500 across multiple levels, including a main floor and tiered upper seating that wraps the sides and rear of the room in the hall’s shoebox-style layout.
The Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall is the smaller of the two, built for chamber music, solo recitals, and more intimate programming. It seats 536 and puts the audience noticeably closer to the performers than the main auditorium. For a seat-by-seat layout of either room, the Seattle Symphony publishes official seating charts on its website, which is the most reliable source since exact configurations can shift slightly by event.
The Acoustics
Acoustics were the driving design principle behind Benaroya Hall, led by Cyril Harris, one of the most respected concert hall acousticians of his era. The Taper Auditorium’s shoebox-inspired proportions and adjustable acoustic canopy were tuned specifically for the Seattle Symphony’s orchestral repertoire, aiming for the kind of warm, enveloping sound associated with classic 19th-century concert halls rather than a modern fan-shaped auditorium.
Beck and Other Non-Classical Shows at Benaroya Hall
While Benaroya Hall was built for the symphony, it has expanded well beyond classical subscription concerts. The hall has run popular-music “pops” collaborations since 2007, and its stage has hosted artists like Brandi Carlile, Macklemore, Sir Mix-A-Lot, and Nancy Wilson alongside the orchestra.
The Taper Auditorium also books standalone touring artists outside the symphony’s own programming. Beck is scheduled to perform there on November 8, 2026, as part of his tour, playing the main 2,500-seat auditorium rather than the smaller recital hall. As with any touring show, ticket availability and pricing are handled through the venue’s usual outlets rather than the symphony’s subscription system, so it’s worth checking listings directly for on-sale dates and remaining seats.
A Community Landmark
Beyond its role as a performance venue, Benaroya Hall houses a notable glass art collection, including Dale Chihuly’s large-scale installation Crystal Cascade in the lobby. Since opening, the hall has functioned as both a working home for the orchestra and a civic gathering space, hosting everything from formal classical premieres to casual lobby events.
Planning Your Visit
Benaroya Hall is at 200 University Street in downtown Seattle, between 2nd and 3rd Avenues. Tickets for Seattle Symphony concerts, as well as most touring shows booked into the hall, are sold through the official Seattle Symphony / Benaroya Hall website, which is also the best source for current box office hours, individual event times, and accessibility services, since these vary by performance and season rather than following one fixed schedule.
The building has its own underground parking garage, with vehicle entrance on 2nd Avenue just south of Union Street, offering roughly 430 spaces with direct elevator access into the hall (clearance is limited to 6 feet 8 inches, so taller vehicles should use a nearby surface garage instead). Parking can usually be purchased in advance alongside concert tickets or paid on-site the day of a show. Several additional garages sit within a block of the venue if the in-house garage fills up, which is common on nights with a full-capacity Taper Auditorium show.
Benaroya Hall Seattle FAQs
What is Benaroya Hall’s seating capacity?
The main S. Mark Taper Foundation Auditorium seats 2,500. The smaller Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall seats 536. Combined, the building holds just over 3,000 seats.
How many people can Benaroya Hall’s main auditorium hold?
The S. Mark Taper Foundation Auditorium, where most Seattle Symphony concerts and touring shows take place, holds 2,500 people.
Is Beck performing at Benaroya Hall?
Yes. Beck is scheduled to play the S. Mark Taper Foundation Auditorium at Benaroya Hall on November 8, 2026, as part of his current tour.
Where is Benaroya Hall located?
Benaroya Hall is at 200 University Street in downtown Seattle, occupying a full city block between 2nd and 3rd Avenues.
Does Benaroya Hall have parking?
Yes, it has its own underground garage with an entrance on 2nd Avenue just south of Union Street, offering about 430 spaces with direct elevator access into the building.
Who is Benaroya Hall named after?
It’s named for philanthropists Jack and Becky Benaroya, whose foundation made the largest donation in Seattle Symphony history toward the hall’s roughly $120 million construction.
When did Benaroya Hall open?
It opened on September 12, 1998, as the new purpose-built home of the Seattle Symphony.
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