Builders of Disney Hall get key permit

Builders of Walt Disney Concert Hall crossed a crucial bureaucratic threshold on Monday when county officials granted a temporary certificate of occupancy for most of the $274-million building.

“It’s a milestone for sure,” said Terry Bell, project architect for the office of lead architect Frank O. Gehry. “If they wanted to fill the hall tomorrow, they could. You couldn’t have said that before [Monday] afternoon.”

The 2,265-seat hall is scheduled to open in late October, serving as new home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Los Angeles Master Chorale, which now perform in the neighboring Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. The new document affirms that the county-owned building’s main spaces meet county safety and building-code requirements, said Barbara Cangas, project manager of the county Department of Public Works.

In plans laid early this year, Bell acknowledged, architects and builders had set a goal of getting this temporary certificate by May, “but really it’s a sort of no-harm foul.” By devising a provisional exit plan and guaranteeing the presence of three fire officials, Bell said, the orchestra has been able to hold several long-planned rehearsals already.

Next, officials said, will be the completion of the complex’s restaurant, cafe, the Founders Room (a private lounge for top donors) and the 266-seat REDCAT (Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater) performance space. Workers are making their way through a contractor’s list of imperfections throughout the project that do not involve safety issues. Bell said he expects the Disney complex to collect its remaining approvals in September or October.