When Concert Halls Attack!

The Los Angeles Philharmonic’s glittering new home may be glittering just a bit too much for its neighbors. “The world-famous Walt Disney Concert Hall — crown jewel of downtown Los Angeles’ revival — must lose some of the luster from its polished stainless-steel exterior before somebody goes blind, according to a new report. The brilliant rays blind drivers, pedestrians and nearby residents, and create sauna-like conditions in condominiums and businesses. Temperatures on the sidewalks surrounding the hall have been measured at up to 138 degrees.” Los Angeles County officials are considering a plan to sandblast the shimmering stainless steel walls of Disney Hall to dull the glare.