Concert hall in Basel by Zaha Hadid

The Grand Council of the Swiss canton of Basel Stadt gave the green light on January 10, 2007, to the project for the new concert hall by London-based architect Zaha Hadid. The assembly also approved a contribution from the canton amounting to 40 million Swiss francs (out of a total of 80 million). Additionally, the complete project documentation was approved and all objections were rejected. This marked the final steps toward the realization of the "Casino" project – the reconstruction of the old concert building and the construction of a new concert hall. Hadid won first prize for her project in 2005. The architect later responded to public criticism and presented a revised project in June 2006. Construction will begin on July 7, 2007, and completion is scheduled for September 9, 2009. Link>