Merriweather Post Pavilion

Frank Gehry was part of the architectural team that co-designed Merriweather Post Pavilion, which opened in 1967 in Columbia, Maryland. At the time, Gehry was relatively early in his career, and the venue's integration with its natural wooded surroundings reflects the design sensibilities that would later define his work.

The pavilion has approximately 5,200 covered seats under its roof, with an additional lawn area that can hold roughly 12,000 more, bringing total capacity to around 19,000. The lawn area is general admission and popular for picnicking during summer concerts.

The indie band Animal Collective titled their acclaimed 2009 album 'Merriweather Post Pavilion' after the venue, where they had attended concerts and felt a deep personal connection to the space. The album became one of the most praised releases of that year and brought significant cultural attention to the venue.

The concert season typically runs from May through September or October, as the venue is open-air and the Maryland climate makes winter performances impractical. The summer months are the busiest, with frequent performances by national touring acts across rock, pop, hip-hop, and indie genres.