Information and history on reverse side of plaque:
Is the cornerstone of the Cultural District of Pittsburgh.   With its international reputation for grandeur and excellence as a concert hall and showplace,  the 2,689-seat Heinz Hall is home of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
     The structure evolved from its origins as the Loew's Penn Theater in 1927 to its dedication as Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts in 1971 - "a gift to the Pittsburgh Symphony Society from the Howard Heinz Endowment...to encourage,  foster and perpetuate the performing arts in the Greater Pittsburgh area."
     Under the guidance of Henry J. Heinz II,  a $10 million reconstruction took place between 1967 and 1971,  with much of the basic architecture of the old Loew's Penn remaining unchanged from its original French Court style.
     Breche opal and Lavanto marble,  plush red velvet and shimmering crystal were the main elements in the decoration of the interior of the Hall.   The 40-foot Alcoa window replaced the original entrance and rises above the Grand Lobby.
     In 1995, Heinz Hall underwent a $6.5 million renovation,  further improving its audio and video capabilities.   Funding for the project was provided by grants from the Howard Heinz Endowment and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
     Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts remains the crown jewel in the downtown Pittsburgh performing art scene.   With the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra's thirty weeks of concerts each season,  Pittsburgh Broadway Series performances,  and presentations from all areas of popular entertainment,  Heinz Hall maintains its postion as a world-class concert hall to be enjoyed by generations to come.