Construction Photo Gallery

Groundbreaking for the Kauffman Center took place on October 6, 2006. Construction began that same year and we regularly document progress through photos.

Albums below contain some special shots, like those taken from Webster House each month, as well as occasional aerial photos. You'll also find quarterly albums of construction activity, arranged in reverse chronological order.

See a short animation of the construction process.

View from Webster House
Monthly views of the construction site from Webster House by David Riffel.  Riffel climbs to the top of the Webster House tower each month to capture broad changes across the site.

Aerial photos
Several times a year photos a fly-by gives us the chance to take aerial shots. This is a bird’s-eye view that puts the Kauffman Center in perspective with other downtown developments.

Construction April - June 2008 
Seating areas in both halls take shape. Concrete is poured for sections of the Grand Lobby. The stage tower, which will hold lighting, rigging and equipment needed in the proscenium theater, becomes even more prominent.

Construction January – March 2008
Walls begin to go up around the stage area in the proscenium theater and the footprints of both halls are clearly visible from above.

Construction October – December 2007
The orchestra pit for the proscenium theater takes shape. Decking goes in where Grand Lobby and central hall flooring will soon be poured.

Construction July – September 2007
Foundation footings and walls take shape.  Work on mechanical rooms takes place.

Construction April – June 2007
Excavating for foundation and footing work moves forward quickly. Concrete begins to be poured for concert hall and proscenium theater footings and foundations. The north tower crane is put in place.

Construction of a Tower Crane
The Kauffman Center site has two tower cranes at work.  This album shows the assembly of the northern crane which sits at the corner of 16th and Central streets.

Construction January – March 2007
Earthmovers move in to begin clearing and readying the site. 

Construction October – December 2006
Groundbreaking took place on October 6, 2006 and preliminary work at the site began.