Steinmetz Hall, the crown jewel of Phase II construction at the Dr. Phillips Center, opened in January 2022 as one of the world’s most advanced multi‑form performance spaces. The hall “transforms in shape, seating, and sound to accommodate a variety of art forms and events.” This isn’t a matter of shifting drapes or reconfiguring chairs — the entire north end of the room physically moves to reshape the venue. From a production‑engineering perspective, the fully automated, mechanically driven “cassette” is one of the largest and most sophisticated pieces of show‑action equipment ever built.

Hundreds of experts contributed to bringing this vision to life. At IA Stage, we are especially proud of our direct, hands‑on role in assembling the cassette itself. Contracted by Wenger | J.R. Clancy, our team welded, aligned, and built this massive structure on site, helping turn an ambitious concept into a functioning, elegant reality.

The hall is composed of four major elements: the static south end; the 500‑ton moveable north end known as the cassette; and two 53‑foot‑tall, 60,000‑pound stage towers that extend the room’s length. While the venue offers four seating levels — orchestra, grand tier, center tier, and upper tier — the cassette and towers incorporate the upper three levels directly into their structure. In effect, the cassette is a three‑story moving section of the theatre, complete with built‑in seating.

The cassette travels on steel train tracks and is positioned by SERAPID rigid‑chain machines, sliding fully upstage when not in use. The stage towers, riding on air casters, can be stored offstage or behind the cassette, depending on the configuration.

These four components allow Steinmetz Hall to shift seamlessly between three primary modes:

  • Concert Mode — All elements in place, seating approximately 1,700 guests
  • Recital Mode — Cassette in place with towers stored, creating a more intimate environment
  • Theater Mode — Cassette and towers stored upstage with the proscenium flown in

This remarkable flexibility is what makes Steinmetz Hall a world‑class, shape‑shifting performance venue — and IA Stage is honored to have played a key role in bringing its most complex moving element to life.

Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, in Orlando, Florida.