The spotlight at the end of our tunnel keeps getting brighter and brighter, and there’s a new reason why: The Music Center just announced that it received a UL “healthy building” verification for its venues’ air quality (and was the first performing arts organization in the country to do so).
So... what exactly does that mean? Let’s break it down.
The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (and this is also true for the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Mark Taper Forum and Ahmanson Theatre) is fitted with high-quality air, ventilation and filtration systems. These systems bring fresh air in and circulate it, for a complete air change inside the theater four to six times per hour, as recommended by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.
Plus, new MERV 13 air filters that remove particles between 1 and 5 microns were installed throughout the building. (For context, the industry standard air filter used to be a lower-performing MERV 8). Even though COVID-19 particles are smaller than what those filter out, they’re still 85% effective at capturing a majority of the particulate matter that the virus attaches itself to (which scientists say is a really good thing).
These new systems and certification mean the theater is that much safer to return to.
But it doesn’t end here. Making sure the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion is safe for you (and for all of us) is a continuous task, and we’re working closely with The Music Center and local health officials to monitor the latest health and safety protocols as they evolve.
Howard Sherman, Chief Operating Officer of The Music Center assures us via the LA Times that The Music Center will only open when it's safe and precautions will extend beyond opening, “I want people to rest assured that we are doing everything that we need to do... This is an ongoing process. We will not be stopping when we open our doors.”
Still, encouraging news like this (as well as vaccinations becoming available to all Californians starting April 15) continues to roll out, making us all the more hopeful of seeing world-class art on our stage again come this fall.
We can’t wait to see you soon.
Want even more info on these new certifications? Click here.
