Morabito Consultants provided structural engineering services for the Merriweather Post Pavilion expansion in Columbia, Maryland, supporting new elevated seating and premium viewing amenities designed to enhance the outdoor concert experience. The project included structural design for the 10,000-square-foot SkyBoxes and 8,600-square-foot SkyLawn, integrating new construction with the existing concrete-framed pavilion.
The SkyBoxes consist of composite steel framing suspended from an existing concrete platform using steel pipe hangers. This solution required careful coordination of hanger connections, field conditions, and existing concrete reinforcement to safely support new elevated viewing areas while preserving the existing venue structure.
The terraced SkyLawn was formed with conventionally reinforced concrete overbuild on the existing elevated concrete platform, then covered with soil and natural grass to create a unique outdoor viewing environment. Morabito Consultants performed vibration analysis for rhythmic crowd loading to support serviceability, occupant comfort, and dynamic performance within the high-energy concert venue. The completed expansion demonstrates the firm’s experience with entertainment venue structural design, suspended steel framing, elevated lawn systems, concrete strengthening, and crowd-loading performance requirements.