Strathmore Music Center
North Bethesda, Maryland
client
Montgomery County
size
195,000 sf; 2,000 Seats; Parking Garage
type
New Construction
stats
Theatre, Concert Hall, Music + Dance School
Our design team of G+P and William Rawn Associates created a form nestled into the hill and the site, providing a respite from the commercial bustle of nearby Rockville Pike. A world-class venue and the largest of the Strathmore Hall Foundation performance venues, the Music Center at Strathmore provides a warm, embracing and acoustically-excellent space for the enjoyment of music, dance, and theatre.
The Concert Hall serves as a second home to the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and a venue for a broad range of touring and community-based orchestral and choral groups. The interior of the Hall creates memorable spatial intimacy between audience and performer, remarkable for a space that seats 2000. Audience and chorus seating areas embrace the stage, and connect to side galleries and balconies, contributing to an intense sense of closeness. The interiors feature wood, bronze and warm lighting to make the Hall feel welcoming.
Pitch Perfect Acoustics
Soaring glass walls and windows provide views of the dynamic performances inside and of the community outside. Natural wood accents and warm stone connect to the nature surrounding the iconic facility. The spectacular sound is controlled by individually-controlled acrylic panels, tunable curtains behind bronze grilling, and banners throughout.
The activities in the Education Wing develop future generations of performers who may one day be on stage in the Hall. The light-filled, glass-encased structure exemplifies the sense of broad community involvement so vital to this building. The Education Wing features four expansive and dramatic rehearsal spaces and a host of other practice areas that connect to the Concert Hall. The Levine Music and CityDance are education partners at the Music Center at Strathmore.
The physical aspects of the building are stellar, the acoustics are tremendous, and the educational component makes it a universally accessible building and grounds for all the artistic partners — a great collaboration.
Community Member
Expanding An Icon
Recently Grimm + Parker Architects completed a renovation/addition to expand the cafe and enhance circulation. The goal was to add to the performance facility in a way that integrates seamlessly with the iconic forms.
Closing Thoughts
We are proud to have contributed this iconic performance venue to our community. It’s soaring volumes and lustrous materials echo the rolling hills of the park-like grounds.
“The best concert hall, acoustically and aesthetically, in the region” —The Washington Post
Awards
Honor Award
AIA Maryland Chapter
Honor Award
AIA Boston Society of Architects
Honor Award
AIA Northern Virginia Chapter
Design Excellence Award, Citation
Montgomery County Planning Department
