$12 million
6,000
August, 2004
TMP Architects, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
BAI Acoustical Consultants, Austin, Texas
As one of the most unique amphitheatres in the world, a 2,000 seat summer presentation facility has been operated by The City of Pontiac, Michigan - on top of a four story parking garage. Yes indeed, since the late 1960s the city has sponsored events in a small facility created on the top of the central city parking garage four floors above the street. The facility became home to a local arts festival that attracted thousands of people during the month of August each year.
Due to the growth of this August Festival the existing amphitheatre was bursting at the seams. The city commissioned a study to determine if replacing and expanding the facilities on the garage roof could attract performances before and after the August Festival. The study suggested that a 6000 seat venue, with 3000 under roof and 3000 on lawn,could greatly increase the income potential for the city, as well as meet the needs of the Festival for many years to come.
The Festival organizers felt they could survive in a park setting for one August, but the unique roof-top setting had to be ready the following year.
In the winter of 2003 the City of Pontiac asked a team made up of contractor Conasanti Corporation, TMP Architecture, and Jones & Phillips Associates, Inc. to serve as a "design/build" group to transform the top of the parking garage into a new amphitheatre over a 20 month period. As the weather broke demolition started, even as the design was being developed. Come August of 2004 a new "amphitheatre on the roof" will open in downtown Pontiac, Michigan.
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