Frank Gehry’s collapsing roof is making a comeback. Designed in the 60s by the world-famous architect Frank Gehry, this outdoor concert venue comprises more than 19,000 seats.
Earlier this month, the Merriweather Post Pavilion collapsed due to strong winds. Fortunately, the Columbia outdoor music venue announced that it is planning to open with a new roof in time for its first concert in 2018.
Photography: Ian Kennedy
Occupying 40 acres of land (162,000 sq.m), the popular amphitheater is located in the center of Symphony Woods in Columbia, Maryland.
Audrey Fix Schaefer, communications director for I.M.P. and owner of the venue, has announced that the planning phase had already started. She confirms that the construction will begin very soon as they have concerts to hold starting early spring.
Rendering of the renovated Merriweather Post Pavilion (Courtesy The Howard Hughes Corporation)
“I anticipate it will be ready for the opening date,” she said. “The timing of it is such that we’re able to do this in plenty of time for the season to start.”
Schaefer also says that the new roof for the Merriweather Post Pavilion is planned to reach a height of 51 feet.
Before its collapse, the roof was in the middle of a renovation project. This renovation phase is expected to last for approximately 5 years. Luckily, no one was reportedly injured due to the crashing-down of the roof.
