Designed by Frank Gehry, the Walt Disney Concert Hall seats 2,265 people and serves as the home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestra and the Los Angeles Master Chorale. It is located in downtown Los Angeles and is most famous for its unique architecture and state-of-the-art acoustics of its hardwood paneled auditorium.

Construction costs of the underground parking structure had far exceeded the original budget, and in an effort to cut costs for the concert hall, the original plans for a stone exterior were replaced with less costly stainless steel. Most of the building’s skin was given a matte finish, with the exception of the Founders Room and Children’s Amphitheater, which were designed with highly polished mirror-like panels. This resulted in major reflection issues, with the sun reflecting uncomfortable amounts of light and heat into neighboring condos, hotspots on the sidewalks, and an increased risk of traffic accidents due to blinding sunlight. Gehry Partners chose to dull the offending panels by lightly sanding them, eliminating the unwanted glare.

This iconic project was completed in October 2003 and cost $274 million.

(Images via LA Phil, Architecture Week)