The new Ankara CSO Concert Hall—a modern marvel surrounded by Turkish History

The colossal ellipsoid dome in Ankara, Turkey which will be the Presidential Symphony Orchestra’s main concert hall, seating up to 2,000 concert-goers.

The colossal ellipsoid dome in Ankara, Turkey which will be the Presidential Symphony Orchestra’s main concert hall, seating up to 2,000 concert-goers. (Monolithic Dome Institute)

Bright lights illuminate the sleek curves of the Ankara CSO Concert Hall’s ellipsoid dome at night on Ataturk Boulevard.

Bright lights illuminate the sleek curves of the Ankara CSO Concert Hall’s ellipsoid dome at night on Ataturk Boulevard. (Mumtaz Pak)

The Ankara CSO Concert Hall was constructed using Monolithic Dome technology. An adhesive layer was applied to the inside of the Airform membrane followed by a layer of polyurethane foam, steel reinforcing and a final layer of shotcrete.

The Ankara CSO Concert Hall was constructed using Monolithic Dome technology. An adhesive layer was applied to the inside of the Airform membrane followed by a layer of polyurethane foam, steel reinforcing and a final layer of shotcrete. (Monolithic Dome Institute)

Custom built scaffolding specifically designed to aid in the construction of the shell and infrastructure of the Ankara CSO Concert Hall.

Custom built scaffolding specifically designed to aid in the construction of the shell and infrastructure of the Ankara CSO Concert Hall. (Monolithic Dome Institute)

Construction of the Ankara CSO Concert Hall’s spherical chamber music hall which will seat 500 people.

Construction of the Ankara CSO Concert Hall’s spherical chamber music hall which will seat 500 people. (Monolithic Dome Institute)

Inflator fans were used to inflate the Ankara CSO Concert Hall’s Airform membranes and to regulate the air pressure during construction.

Inflator fans were used to inflate the Ankara CSO Concert Hall’s Airform membranes and to regulate the air pressure during construction. (Monolithic Dome Institute)

A model of the finished exterior of the colossal ellipsoid dome and its impressive spherical counterpart, juxtaposed with the vaulted triangular foyer, under construction in downtown Ankara, Turkey on Ataturk Boulevard.

A model of the finished exterior of the colossal ellipsoid dome and its impressive spherical counterpart, juxtaposed with the vaulted triangular foyer, under construction in downtown Ankara, Turkey on Ataturk Boulevard. (Monolithic Dome Institute)

A cutaway model of the interior of the egg-shaped dome in Ankara, Turkey which will be the Presidential Symphony Orchestra’s main concert hall, seating up to 2,000 concert-goers.

A cutaway model of the interior of the egg-shaped dome in Ankara, Turkey which will be the Presidential Symphony Orchestra’s main concert hall, seating up to 2,000 concert-goers. (Monolithic Dome Institute)

As of October 2014, you can see great progress has been made on the steel and glass intermediate section of this iconic building.

As of October 2014, you can see great progress has been made on the steel and glass intermediate section of this iconic building. (Martha Jean Hoehn)