Process
Perched on historic Gambles Hill and overlooking both the James River and downtown Richmond, the newly completed Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront adds a significant cultural anchor to the city’s evolving riverfront. This open-air venue joins a network of transformative civic projects, including the American Civil War Museum and forthcoming improvements to Brown’s Island, that collectively reimagine and activate Richmond’s waterfront.
The amphitheater’s design draws heavily from the site’s natural topography and rich industrial past. Visitors experience a dynamic interplay between landscape and architecture as they move through a series of hillside concourses inspired by the curving forms of the adjacent historic canal. This former canal has been reimagined as a greenway, helping shape circulation patterns and gathering spaces that cascade organically down the site. A curving brick site wall establishes the boundary between public concourse areas and the series of back-of-house structures tucked into the hillside. At its most expressive moment, the performance stage erupts through this wall, a symbolic gesture that reflects the vitality and energy of the performances it hosts.
Integral to the project is the integration of preserved site elements and historical references. Uplit masonry ruins embedded into the hillside offer an evocative nighttime experience for concertgoers, blending the ambiance of a modern performance venue with a deep sense of place—Richmond’s own nod to the drama of venues like Red Rocks. For performers, the site’s original carpenter’s shop has been transformed into a series of distinctive artist dressing rooms, offering a hospitality experience rooted in local character and history.
The Allianz Amphitheater was made possible through a collaborative effort between public and private partners, including the City of Richmond, the landowner, design and construction teams, and event organizers. Their shared vision has resulted in a venue that celebrates Richmond’s unique identity while contributing to its cultural and recreational fabric for years to come.
Gallery
