[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 106 (Friday, July 29, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1694]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN PRAISE OF THE NEW POSTAL STAMP COMMEMORATING FRANK GEHRY'S WALT 
                          DISNEY CONCERT HALL

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 28, 2005

  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate famed 
architect Frank Gehry for the selection of the Walt Disney Concert Hall 
as one of the Masterworks of Modern Architecture for this year's United 
States postal stamp collection. The Walt Disney Concert Hall stamp will 
be part of a collection of twelve masterworks of modern American 
architecture that includes Frank Lloyd Wright's Guggenheim Museum, the 
concrete Yale Art and Architecture Building, the Chrysler Building in 
New York, and the East Building of the National Gallery of Art in 
Washington, DC. The Walt Disney Concert Hall is the newest structure in 
this series and the only architectural masterpiece from our country's 
West Coast to receive this honor.
  The Walt Disney Concert Hall is located in my congressional district, 
at the intersection of First Street and Grand Avenue in downtown Los 
Angeles. This beautiful masterpiece, situated on historic Bunker Hill, 
is home to the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The hall's bold and unique 
exterior is comprised of enormous curved shapes of stainless steel. The 
magnificent and magical architecture of the exterior is matched by that 
of its interior. The hardwood-paneled main auditorium, designed by 
world-renowned expert Yasuhisa Toyota, has been lauded for its state-
of-the-art acoustics. In the auditorium, guests sit on all sides of the 
orchestra. Private boxes, typically present in concert halls, do not 
exist.
  The Disney Concert Hall further welcomes a community atmosphere with 
its expansive transparent doors and windows that stretch along Grand 
Avenue. Occupying a full city block, the 3.6 acre site is also home to 
California's smallest state park.
  Frank Gehry's Disney Hall masterpiece has drawn national attention to 
Los Angeles and has served as the centerpiece of successful efforts to 
revitalize downtown L.A. and its diverse artistic and cultural 
offerings.
  This landmark project began in 1987 when Walt Disney's widow Lillian 
Disney gave a $50 million gift to Angelenos to build the concert hall 
and to demonstrate Walt Disney's commitment to the arts. Mr. Gehry was 
selected as its architect the following year. Construction on the hall 
began in 1999 and the Disney Concert Hall opened its doors in 2003.
  The building of the Walt Disney Concert Hall was a collaboration of 
efforts throughout the County of Los Angeles. Talented ironworkers 
crafted the remarkable exterior. Corporations, foundations, and 
individuals, in conjunction with the State of California and the Disney 
family, partnered to provide the funding for this incredible 
undertaking.
  Open daily to the public, Angelenos and visitors alike now enjoy an 
internationally renowned architectural masterpiece and one of the most 
remarkable concert halls in the world. Since its opening, the Walt 
Disney Concert Hall has had more than 450,000 visitors.
  Frank Gehry's masterpiece is a fitting contribution to the U.S. 
Postal Service's collection of the Masterworks of Modern Architecture. 
On behalf of all Angelenos, I congratulate him and all who helped to 
make the Walt Disney Concert Hall a reality, worthy of this prestigious 
honor.

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