DSO spokesperson Jill Woodward says plans for the expansion arebeing refined, and the target completion date is set for 2003.Theexpansion will be about 134,000 sf, including a 550-seat recitalhall, a smaller hall for rehearsal and dance, dressing rooms, alibrary, an atrium lobby and 16,000 sf of offices.

The high school was a $35 million project, supposed to be builtin conjunction with the expansion to the Orchestra Hall. Aceremonial ground-breaking ceremony was held last year. However,the takeover of the Detroit Public Schools by the City of Detroitand the foot-dragging over the establishment of a new DetroitSchool Board has put the project on hold.

"We're still hoping the school will be built next door," saysWoodward.Early plans had called for the expansion and the school tobe combined, for the school to include an 800-seat auditorium thatwould also be used by the DSO. This plan was scrapped early,Woodward says, because of ownership conflicts.