Thomas Fanning, a senior project manager at Spaulding & Slye, tells GlobeSt.com that the purchase and sales agreement was signed with Lyme Properties, which is developing Kendall Square into a 1.3-million sf mixed-use development. Philip Pennellatore, of Schneider & Associates, which is representing the theater group, tells Globest.com that the land and development rights were acquired for $8 million. The estimated cost of the center is $65 million to $70 million.

The project, scheduled to break ground in 20004, involves four halls with total seating for 1500 people and related supporting spaces all housed in a single facility. The largest of the halls will have 800 to1000 seats. The facility will include a large hall for classical and early music; a second hall specifically suited for jazz, folk, gospel and world music; a "Jewel Box" hall for more intimate performances; and lastly, a hall for lectures, seminars and special events.

The center will offer performance spaces for small- and medium-size groups and will include unusually fine acoustic environments for music spanning 15 centuries and multiple cultures, advanced motion picture screening capability plus music recording studio and film post-production space. The large hall will feature the only authentically produced Bach organ outside Eastern Europe and its own genuine theater organ appropriate to accompanying the classic "silents."