Nestled in nature but near to noise—The Ford Amphitheatre

Abstract

The historic Ford Amphitheatre was relocated in 1920, from what would later become the location of the Hollywood Bowl, across the Hollywood Freeway, into an arroyo with a dramatic natural backdrop. The original wood structure was destroyed by a brush fire in 1929, and rebuilt in concrete in 1931. In the meantime, the freeway has become increasingly noisy. The current renovation to this 1200 seat outdoor amphitheatre includes an expanded “sound wall” that will help to mitigate freeway noise while providing optimal lighting and control positions. The remarkably uniform distribution of ambient noise throughout the seating area, the significantly reverberant character of this outdoor space, and the apparent contributions by the arroyo will be discussed, along with assorted design and construction challenges.