Walt Disney Concert Hall, the latest and most striking addition to the Los Angeles cultural and architectural landscape, stands one city block from the historic Grand Avenue address of City Club on Bunker Hill. The club’s 54th floor quarters provide a bird’s-eye view of the sculptural compositions created by the building’s curving and folding exterior walls of stainless steel panels. Closer looks come with the club’s Concierge Signature Event Programs, featuring dinner events that include performances in the new concert hall.

This $274 million architectural feat by Frank Gehry represents a 16-year saga. The project was conceived when the late Lillian Disney made an initial gift of $50 million to build a world-class performance venue as a gift to the people of Los Angeles and a tribute to Walt Disney’s devotion to the arts.

Understatement: It’s worth a visit.

Self-guided audio tours, which are available daily, offer a comprehensive exploration of the hall and its history. The 60-minute tours led by guest service tour guides offer architectural and garden highlights. These guided tours are available to groups of 15 or more people.

The tours do not include the auditorium because of the rehearsal, performance, and special event schedule. This is unfortunate because the 2,265-seat Walt Disney Concert Hall Auditorium is one of the most acoustically sophisticated concert halls in the world. The groundbreaking "vineyard" shape of the Hall, with its curved wood ceiling, retains the superb acoustical characteristics of a traditional "shoebox" style concert hall, while allowing more flexibility in architectural design. Audience members surround the orchestra platform for a uniquely interactive and intimate experience, and a pipe organ occupies a central position between the seating blocks at the rear of the stage.

Other design highlights of the main auditorium include hardwood walls and ceiling made of Douglas fir — the same wood often used on the backs of cellos and violas — and a large 36-foot-high rear window and skylights that allow natural light to enhance daytime concerts. The Hall also encompasses two outdoor amphitheaters — a theater for children’s programming seating up to 300 children or 200 adults, and a second performance space that accommodates an audience of 120 — as well as a hall for pre-concert events. An urban park for public gathering surrounds Walt Disney Concert Hall and features expansive public gardens, colorful and ornamental landscaping, walkways, benches, and shade trees. Other amenities include an Atrium Reception Hall and a large Pre-Concert Foyer. At the Grand Avenue level, a series of glass walls define a restaurant, gift shop, café, box office, and access to the parking garage below.

Final note: The Los Angeles Philharmonic’s inaugural season in its new permanent home features classical masterworks in music and contemporary repertoire, highlighted by some of the world’s most celebrated guest conductors and soloists.