flexiblefullpage -
billboard - default
interstitial1 - interstitial
catfish1 - bottom
Currently Reading

Cincinnati’s Andrew J Brady Music Center transforms the city’s riverfront

Building Team

Cincinnati’s Andrew J Brady Music Center transforms the city’s riverfront

The venue can seat 4,400 people indoors—and twice that number outdoors.


By Novid Parsi, Contributing Editor | May 9, 2022
Andrew J Brady Music Center ext
Courtesy Brad Feinknopf.

In Cincinnati, Ohio, the Andrew J Brady Music Center aims to connect audiences with live music while transforming Cincinnati’s riverfront. Designed by GBBN, the project, which opened in mid-2021, intends to reshape how people throughout the region engage with public space on the banks of the Ohio River.

With its entrance facing the river, the venue can seat 4,400 people on three levels indoors and can host 8,800 people for the seasonal stage outdoors. Between the indoor and outdoor spaces, the Brady Center for Music can host 140 to 160 concert events a year. 

The inside venue provides clear sightlines from all vantage points, whether from the floor or the balconies. That has been achieved with structural V columns that occupy less floor space and are less visually obstructive than straight, vertical columns, helping to ensure unobstructed views of the stage. The venue also includes dressing rooms, VIP spaces, and outdoor patios. 

Outside, the venue features perforated, color-shifting metal panels as part of a Kolorshift system that creates a dynamic facade day or night. Called Purple Rain, the product ensures no two views of the exterior are ever the same. The center also provides multiple access points—the street, parking garage, and adjacent park—so that patrons can easily access the venue by foot, car, or shared ride.

Messer Construction poured 4,900 square feet of concrete for the stage, loading dock, and exterior areas. Fun fact: Someone who owns 2,250 albums could cover the entire square footage of the stage with their record collection.

Other Team Members:

Owner: Music Entertainment Management Inc.

Design architect and architect of record: GBBN 

MEP engineer: CMTA and Veregy (formerly Dynamix Engineering) 

Acoustics: Harvey Marshall Berling Associates 

Structural engineer: THP 

General contractor/construction manager: Messer Construction

Andrew J Brady Music Center ext
Courtesy Brad Feinknopf.
Andrew J Brady Music Center int
Courtesy Brad Feinknopf.
Andrew J Brady Music Center int 2
Courtesy Brad Feinknopf.

 

Related Stories

Airports | Jul 8, 2022

Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport’s new terminal prioritizes passenger experience and sustainability

McCarthy Building Companies recently completed construction of the final concourse in Terminal 4 at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

Architects | Jul 7, 2022

Page acquires AE giant EYP to form 1,300-person international design firm

The combined firm will “be able to invest in research and thought leadership to co-create with our clients,” stated Page CEO Thomas McCarthy.

Building Team | Jul 7, 2022

Report explores improving architect/contractor relationship

A new study by the American Institute of Architects and the Associated General Contractors of America focuses on improving the relationship between architects and contractors.

Airports | Jul 7, 2022

Love at first flight: The power of first impressions in airports

As architects, how we design a terminal and choreograph the passenger experience can stir up strong feelings.

Building Team | Jul 7, 2022

Amenity-rich rental property in Chicago includes seven-story atrium with vertical landscaping

The recently opened 198-unit Optima Lakeview luxury rental apartment building in Chicago is bursting with amenities such as the region’s first year-round rooftop pool, contact-free in-home package delivery, housekeeping services, on-site room service, fitness programming, and a virtual personal assistant.

Multifamily Housing | Jul 6, 2022

The power of contextual housing development

Creating urban villages and vibrant communities starts with a better understanding of place, writes LPA's Matthew Porreca. 

Building Team | Jul 6, 2022

Buro Happold selects Jennifer Price for top role, US Managing Director

Buro Happold, a world-class practice of 2,200 engineers and consultants, has announced the appointment of Seattle-based Jennifer Price as US Managing Director and Partner.

University Buildings | Jul 6, 2022

Wenzhou-Kean University opens a campus building that bridges China’s past and future

After pandemic-related stops and starts, Wenzhou-Kean University’s Ge Hekai Hall has finally begun to see full occupancy.

Security and Life Safety | Jul 5, 2022

What AEC firms should look for in a cybersecurity partner

When looking for expert partners in cybersecurity, AEC firms will find quite a lot of companies claiming to be at the forefront of modern threats. Here are five key points to look for when choosing a cybersecurity firm.

Performing Arts Centers | Jul 5, 2022

Tour the new Patricia Reser Center for the Arts in Oregon

This month, the community of Beaverton, Oregon, welcomed a new haven for artistic expression with the opening of Patricia Reser Center for the Arts (The Reser).

boombox1 - default
boombox2 -
native1 -

More In Category



Giants 400

Top 75 Engineering Firms for 2023

Kimley-Horn, WSP, Tetra Tech, Langan, and IMEG head the rankings of the nation's largest engineering firms for nonresidential buildings and multifamily buildings work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2023 Giants 400 Report.


halfpage1 -

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021