The building of a new hall was delayed by the demands of Liverpool City Corporation, which announced that it would not support the building of a venue suitable only as a concert hall.
The corporation demanded an auditorium equally suited to cinema and theatre use.
Controversy ensued with vocal opposition to the corporation's stance led by the doyen of British conductors, Sir Henry Wood.
A compromise was reached and work began in June 1937.

Herbert J. Rowse was commissioned to design a new hall on the site of the previous hall.
Rowse's design was in Streamline Moderne style.
 It incorporated an organ built by the Liverpool firm of Rushworth and Dreaper with a console which can be lowered from the stage.
 The hall was officially opened on 19 June 1939, and inaugurated the next day with a concert conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham.
The Manchester Guardian commented, "The magnificent compliment Liverpool has paid to the cause of music in England almost takes one's breath away ... a hall of great size, noble proportions, and up-to-date appointments ... ready to take its place among the most eminent homes of musical culture in this or any other country".
 The final cost of the hall was a little over £120,000 (equivalent to £7.49 million in 2019) and the architect was paid £6,869 (equivalent to £429,000 in 2019).
 An extension was added to the rear of the hall which was completed in 1992, designed by Brock Carmichael Associates.
 A major refurbishment of the hall was carried out in 1995 at a cost of £10.3 million.
 This included the complete replacement of the fibrous plaster interior with concrete, carried out again by Brock Carmichael, working with the acoustic consultant firm Lawrence Kirkegaard Associates.
A local violinist, John Frederick Clarke, who was part of the famed RMS Titanic orchestra, and the other band members who died during the ship's sinking in 1912 are all commemorated on a memorial plaque within Philharmonic Hall.

A further renovation, costing around £14 million, was completed in October 2015, primarily refurbishing the main concert hall and auditorium, and adding a new performance space named the Music Room.
The building of a new hall was delayed by the demands of Liverpool City Corporation, which announced that it would not support the building of a venue suitable only as a concert hall. The corporation demanded an auditorium equally suited to cinema and theatre use. Controversy ensued with vocal opposition to the corporation's stance led by the doyen of British conductors, Sir Henry Wood. A compromise was reached and work began in June 1937.
Herbert J. Rowse was commissioned to design a new hall on the site of the previous hall. Rowse's design was in Streamline Moderne style.  It incorporated an organ built by the Liverpool firm of Rushworth and Dreaper with a console which can be lowered from the stage.  The hall was officially opened on 19 June 1939, and inaugurated the next day with a concert conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham. The Manchester Guardian commented, "The magnificent compliment Liverpool has paid to the cause of music in England almost takes one's breath away ... a hall of great size, noble proportions, and up-to-date appointments ... ready to take its place among the most eminent homes of musical culture in this or any other country".  The final cost of the hall was a little over £120,000 (equivalent to £7.49 million in 2019) and the architect was paid £6,869 (equivalent to £429,000 in 2019).  An extension was added to the rear of the hall which was completed in 1992, designed by Brock Carmichael Associates.  A major refurbishment of the hall was carried out in 1995 at a cost of £10.3 million.  This included the complete replacement of the fibrous plaster interior with concrete, carried out again by Brock Carmichael, working with the acoustic consultant firm Lawrence Kirkegaard Associates. A local violinist, John Frederick Clarke, who was part of the famed RMS Titanic orchestra, and the other band members who died during the ship's sinking in 1912 are all commemorated on a memorial plaque within Philharmonic Hall.
A further renovation, costing around £14 million, was completed in October 2015, primarily refurbishing the main concert hall and auditorium, and adding a new performance space named the Music Room.
Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool