The Long Center opened in March 2008 after three years of construction on the site of the previous Palmer Auditorium.

The new theater complex, at present with two stage venues, is the official performance home of three venerable Austin institutions: the Austin Lyric Opera, the Austin Symphony, and Ballet Austin.

The Rollins Theater is the smaller performance venue with flexible seating for up to about 220 people. The Dell Hall seats 2,400 and has remarkably excellent acoustics. Elaborate systems of panels can be lowered as needed to customize the sound quality to match the specific performers, and each of the terraced seating levels is built over a waffle-like grid to enhance the richness of sound.

Don't miss the Kodosky Donor Lounge. This large interior room off the mezzanine level features a glass wall with the most beautiful view of the Austin skyline. All of the spaces in the Long Center can be rented, but this one is the perfect party room for a wedding or other special event.

Free tours of the complex are held every Wednesday at 11 am and at noon. No need to reserve - just show up at the Rollins Lobby 10 minutes before tour time.

For architecture buffs, the Long Center is an interesting reuse of the previous Palmer Auditorium. On the exterior, the old round ring of the Palmer looks like a ring of Saturn around the new Long Center and many of the Palmer's materials have been recycled and integrated with new materials.