Recently developed acoustical design criteria, derived from an exhaustive program of subjective testing at Kobe University and the University of Gottingen, have been applied to the acoustical design of The Washington Center, a multipurpose performing arts facility in Olympia, Washington, USA. In response to the programmatic emphasis on high‐quality acoustics for orchestral music, the architectural configuration progressed from a wide, single‐balcony scheme to one that is narrower with two balconies. The acoustical design effort was concentrated on the size and shape of wall reflectors, room asymmetry, and diffusing elements. The first reflection time delay, binaural dissimilarity, and total energy of the sound field were predicted with a computer model of the auditorium. Adjustments were made to the shape, cheeked by computer, and synthesized into the architectural design, arriving at optimum values for selected seat locations.