Above: With nine “legs” coming down to the foundation, the structure has eight asymmetric openings, one of which is the main stage.

Custom shades brighten outdoor aluminum-framed amphitheater in Maryland

December 2017 - While being plugged into digital worlds has become second nature for people, it’s often surprising how refreshing it is to get back to that which makes us most human: Actual nature. Souls can be replenished when surrounded by fresh air, rustling leaves, chirping birds or a burbling brook. Nature can make one transcend the worries and stresses of everyday life. So, too, can music.

Enjoying the arts in nature has been a pillar of culture and the demand for outdoor venues has steadily persisted, offering opportunity for both artists and architects.

Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods is a tribute to the arts and the environment, featuring the Chrysalis amphitheater in a spacious park at the center of downtown Columbia, Maryland, southeast of Baltimore.

8,200 aluminum shingles are clad in four custom green shades of Sherwin-Williams coil coating and Valspar’s Fluropon Solar Reflect exterior architectural coating.

The Chrysalis is part of a seven-phase park project developed by the nonprofit Inner Arbor Trust. The multi-use space opened to the public at the 2017 Earth Day celebration, where several local bands christened the stage and kicked off the season. The 5,000-square foot structure consists of a main stage accompanied by a smaller side stage. Larger performances have the opportunity to use the full space.

The Chrysalis serves as a performance space for music festivals in the park and facilitates weekly film evenings in the summer.

A multidisciplinary team worked in concert to design and build the Chrysalis, including designer and Architect DPLG Marc Fornes/THEVERYMANY, Architect of Records Living Design Lab LLC, theatrical and lighting design and engineering firm Arup, specialty design/builder A. Zahner Co., landscape architect Mahan Rykiel Associates, civil engineer Gutschick, Little & Weber, and general contractor Whiting-Turner Contracting Co.

The producer and director of this collaborative team was Michael McCall, president of Strategic Leisure and founding president and CEO of Inner Arbor Trust.

The coating, Fluropon SR, contains solar reflective pigments that protect the structure from harmful ultraviolet rays, keeping the Chrysalis cool while countering sun damage.

Structural design

In creating a stage, pavilion and sculpture all in one, the team developed a structure that is both visually pleasing and functional. With nine “legs” coming down to the foundation, the structure has eight asymmetric openings, one of which is the main stage, and another acts as both a smaller stage and the primary entrance into the Chrysalis.

The structure itself is fabricated of aluminum beams covered in metal roof panels. The aluminum roof panels, fabricated and installed by A. Zahner Co., create a shell surrounding the stage. Clad in four custom green shades of Sherwin-Williams coil coating and Valspar’s Fluropon Solar Reflect exterior architectural coating, the 8,200 aluminum shingles cover the canopy of the structure from top to bottom. The multi-hued pattern is designed to make the amphitheater look as if it is growing out of the ground.

The metal roof panels, provided by Zahner, are made of durable and smooth-finished materials, which protect the structure like a coat of armor. By incorporating the Zahner Engineered Profile Panel System (ZEPPS), the architectural and engineering teams were able to build Marc Fornes’ organic, pleated design.

The ZEPPS system is made for use on projects with unconventional shapes and structures. It provides a modular custom prefabricated product. As such, the physical parts are entirely derived from digitally defined geometries. Zahner engineers translate these surface geometries into parametric parts. When assembled, the large panel elements interlock and make up a continuous surface.

Using ZEPPS, Zahner provides production of a digital model, custom prefabrication, rapid installation, and more.

A. Zahner Co. engineers translate surface geometries into parametric parts. When assembled, the large panel elements interlock and make up a continuous surface.

Solar reflection

The vibrant colors of the Chrysalis were made possible with Fluropon SR exterior architectural coating. With its color-matching abilities, Valspar was able to create the shades of green envisioned by the architects.

The coating itself, Fluropon SR, contains solar reflective pigments that protect the structure from harmful ultraviolet rays, keeping the Chrysalis cool and countering sun damage. The 70 percent PVDF exterior architectural coating resists weathering, chalking, fading, dirt and stains, as well as chemical degradation. Fluropon SR gives the Chrysalis a beautiful and playful aesthetic that will remain vibrant for years to come.

The bold design and overall look of the Chrysalis sets it apart from other amphitheaters, yet does not detract from the beauty of the surrounding park. Although it is fabricated of industrial materials, the appearance of the amphitheater embodies a large living organism.

The Chrysalis is a place of gathering, collaboration, interpretation and listening. Even on a rainy day, it offers a canopy to ride out a storm with a good book or a provocative conversation with a friend. The amphitheater invites the public to explore and enjoy the piece of art, use it as a picnic spot or enjoy the facility as a venue to watch a favorite band or movie. MM

Jeff Alexander is the vice president of sales– coil and extrusion, Sherwin-Williams Coil Coatings.