Conceived and developed in collaboration with the San Francisco Symphony, the immersive and dynamic installation Chromatic was launched to celebrate the arrival of incoming music director Esa-Pekka Salonen. A visual spectacle inspired by—and responsive to—the music performed within Davies Symphony Hall, Chromatic transforms the building’s façade into a canvas of ever-evolving color and movement.

The installation creates complex, articulating textures both on and within the architecture by combining the distinct effects of pixelated direct-view fixtures with arrays of luminaires that indirectly wash the columns, ceilings, and interior volumes of the lobby spaces.

The expressive power of this visual instrument is driven by custom real-time generative software, which functions as a visual engine for the Symphony. It includes a pre-visualization tool that enables the team to curate and preview impactful activations before they appear on the façade.

As part of a broader audience-evolution strategy, Chromatic aims to engage the wider community by activating the streetscape and contributing to the cultural landscape of San Francisco. The installation reaffirms the Symphony’s role as a catalyst for innovative artistic expression and cultural relevance, while positioning orchestral music as a vital and contemporary art form for the 21st century.