But on these fronts, the Kimmel - now in its 10th season and hundreds of millions of dollars later - is still very much a work in progress.
The Kimmel has made progress on its finances and is now debt-free, and it has succeeded in deepening its relationships with resident companies.
But there is much to do. Renovations will make way for a restaurant expected to open in December in a more prominent site, on the ground floor where the gift shop was.
The rooftop garden, originally promised by architects as a habitable and climate-controlled space, is so hot or cold it's unusable much of the year. Soon, after millions more are spent, the space will be enclosed in a dome, in a stab at creating a rentable space for special events.
Acoustics are still undergoing improvements. Philadelphia Orchestra players on one side of Verizon Hall's stage say they can't hear what's being played on the other; this, plus studies by acousticians finding a lack of overall presence of sound in the audience, has compelled the Kimmel to undertake another round of corrective construction this summer.
"The minute the orchestra is off for the summer we go to work," said Anne Ewers, the Kimmel's president and chief executive officer.
The rooftop garden, acoustic projects, and new restaurant are being paid for with $7 million in philanthropy, plus $7 million from the state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (which provided tens of millions of dollars for initial construction a decade ago).
Bringing climate control to the rooftop garden will yield a substantial stream of rental income, the Kimmel hopes, for weddings, parties, and other events.
