Barbara Gartley works in the Project Management Office of the Kennedy Center.

The National Symphony Orchestra keeps the Concert Hall teeming with music and musicians throughout the year: rehearsals, concerts, auditions and more.

So what's happening with the Concert Hall while the NSO tours? Or moves out to Wolf Trap?

This:

And This:

After (literally) watching the paint peel for some time, especially from the Second Tier, a major Concert Hall ceiling refurbishment began this summer. The project was done through the Kennedy Center's Facilities Department. Planning began in June to have a contractor ready to work on August 10.

Since there was just a three week window when the auditorium was dark every day, only 1/3 of the ceiling could be restored this summer. The scaffold, almost 50' high, was put up in four days and taken down in three days.

Now you know how we clean the chandeliers and replace light bulbs, too!

There were two shifts of workers for both scaffolding and painting for most of the project, working 6am to 10pm to expedite the work. The result is a fresh, clean ceiling ready for the music to begin!