The Theater at MGM National Harbor
About
THIS PROJECT
The Theater at MGM National Harbor achieves a unique balance of entertainment experience, elegance and function. The facility is a 3,000-seat concert theater and multi-purpose showroom that includes state-of-the-art sound, video and lighting systems. The multi-purpose design and flat showroom floor allow the theater to be configured for 3,000-seat performances, 4,000-person standing concerts, table and chair banquets, center boxing ring/octagon configuration, a night club, conferences and any combination in between.
The flexibility of the theater is to a unique retractable seating and platform lift system that allows the center section of seating to be retracted and lowered out of the space. This creates a central entrance opening and allows the showroom to be open to the lobby. The theater also features a unique VIP experience with seven private suites, an entertainer meet-and-greet space, isolated gallery seating, a private VIP lobby and bar, and separate entrances, escalators and elevators.
The theater employs the latest technology for fully automated, moving lighting and motorized rigging systems. Supporting spaces are configured to easily receive and implement traveling shows and entertainers. There are four separate bar areas, a private lounge, and an art installation that wraps up through the four lobby levels.
During construction, Whiting-Turner hosted 3,000 workers for our quarterly safety stand-down and the Federal OSHA National Safety Stand-Down in the theater.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
LOCATION:
National Harbor, Maryland
Mid-Atlantic
CLIENT:
MGM Resorts International
INDUSTRY:
Performing Arts
PRACTICES:
BIM/VDC
Sustainability
SEAT PERFORMANCES
PRIVATE SUITES
PERSON STANDING EVENTS
Implementing
VIRTUAL DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION
The Theater at MGM National Harbor undertook an extensive modeling and coordination effort. The house of the theater was a large open volume, which pushed the MEP services to the outside perimeter spaces. Many of those spaces featured large structural members, combined with high ceilings, which resulted in minimal space for MEP coordination.
The model was also referenced throughout coordination and construction to ensure site lines were not impacted. 3D scanning ensured that the full range of travel of a large platform lift, a key feature of the theater, would not conflict with the building structure, the openings in the concrete decks or future architectural elements.