Concertgoers at Merriweather Post Pavilion can expect to see a redesigned west entrance area this summer.
Expected to be completed in June, a new box office, concession stands, merchandise area and restrooms will greet music lovers entering the nationally acclaimed concert venue.
But that's not all that's changing at Merriweather.
Over the next three years, Merriweather will undergo significant renovations to all aspects as officials prepare the nearly 50-year-old venue for its future.
"There's been a lot of band-aids. This is total plastic surgery, new hips, new elbows, new face," Merriweather Vice President of Operations Brad Canfield said.
Much of the work is expected to be finished by the time Merriweather opens the 2017 concert season, its 50th anniversary, Canfield said.
Merriweather's 2015 season opens May 1 with the two-day M3 Rock Festival, now in its seventh year at Merriweather. Throughout May, Merriweather will host DC101's Kerfuffle, Florida Georgia Line, Kenny Chesney, and a tribute show to Jerry Garcia.
Merriweather also holds graduation ceremonies for the Howard County Public School System and Howard Community College in May.
The renovations are divided into three one-year phases, each planned to be done during the offseason to minimize impact.
The first phase, along the western entrance, is expected to be completed in June, starting with the box office, according to Canfield.
The new concession area, which will double what was already there, also will be opened in June, with the rest of the buildings expected to be finished during the second half of the concert season.
The west area of Merriweather will be blocked off during construction, and individual buildings will be opened as they are completed.
The concession area will include additional kitchen space, allowing Merriweather to move toward a made-to-order service model instead of making all its concessions in one kitchen and then transporting them throughout the venue.
"The amount of food we're able to produce quickly and freshly goes up exponentially when we're completely done," Canfield said.
Officials hoped to have work completed by the beginning of the concert season, but weather delays throughout the winter have pushed the schedule date back, he said.
Estimates for the first phase of the project are at more than $5 million, while the cost of the entire renovation will be in the "tens of millions" of dollars, Canfield said. The renovation is being funded by the Howard Hughes Corp., current owner of the pavilion, and the county government.
Merriweather will be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act while preserving the character of Merriweather, which Canfield said has been the biggest challenge of the project.
The venue is also in the process of working on a long-term parking plan, but there will be no changes to parking this season.
Phase two of the project includes raising the pavilion roof from 20 to 40 feet for better views from the lawn seating area and to attract bigger performers who need more space for larger-scale productions. The backstage area also will be revamped to create a two-story backstage, replacing what is now split into different areas.
The height of the roof above the stage will be raised from 30 feet to 65 feet, and the stage itself will go from 66 feet to 80 feet wide, Canfield said. Merriweather officials are still considering whether to keep the original stage or to replace it, Canfield said.
Some seating areas will be upgraded, but the overall capacity of 19,000 will be similar to what it is now, if not slightly larger.
"It won't get smaller, that's for sure," Canfield said.
The third phase of renovations will improve services on the east side of the concert venue.
For a full schedule of Merriweather concerts in 2015, go to merriweathermusic.com.