Winspear Opera House is one of the most distinctive performing arts venues in the Dallas Arts District and forms part of the AT&T Performing Arts Center. Designed by Foster + Partners, the building reinterprets the traditional opera house through contemporary architecture, with a striking red auditorium volume, a tall glass façade and a vast canopy extending over the surrounding public space. Its main auditorium, Margaret McDermott Performance Hall, accommodates around 2,200 visitors and follows the classic horseshoe configuration associated with traditional opera houses.
Inside, the design emphasizes a close relationship between the audience and the stage, supported by variable acoustics for different types of performances. The stage and technical facilities were created for opera and musical theatre while also accommodating ballet, dance and other stage productions. Bar stations on several levels offer alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks as well as light snacks, while the auditorium combines the scale of a major performance hall with the atmosphere of a more intimate theatre.
The venue is located at 2403 Flora St, Dallas, United States, in the heart of the Dallas Arts District. Visitors arriving by car can use Lexus Red Parking, an underground parking facility directly beneath the Winspear Opera House and accessible from Jack Evans Street; additional parking options are available within the performing arts center. For a broader overview of public transport and getting around Dallas, see the city information further down the page.