Alabama-based construction firm Robins & Morton recently celebrated the ribbon cutting of the Orion Amphitheater, Huntsville’s newest performance venue on May 13.
The celebration came hours before the amphitheater’s inaugural weekend-long event called The First Waltz, featuring artists such as St. Paul and the Broken Bones, Jason Isbell, and The N.E.I.G.H.B.O.R.S. While The First Waltz was the amphitheater’s grand opening event, its very first performance was May 7 – Huntsville Hospital’s annual fundraiser, the Huntsville Classic, featuring country music artist Jake Owen.
The nearly 190,000-square-foot, 8,000-seat structure rises three stories and its design is reminiscent of a Roman colosseum. In addition to the performance venue, the amphitheater’s campus also includes a food village, open 365 days a year.
“It was a humbling moment to walk into this now-complete venue, knowing all the collaboration and hard work it took to bring it to life,” Robins & Morton’s Huntsville Division Manager Mitch Coley said. “It’s beautifully designed, built with quality and we know it will be something enjoyed by this community for many years to come. We’re grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of the Orion Amphitheater’s story.”
The Orion Amphitheater was joint project between the City of Huntsville and The Venue Group (TVG), whose CEO is Mumford and Sons’ Ben Lovett. Daily operations are managed by The Venue Group’s Huntsville team, Huntsville Venue Group (HVG), whose general manager is Ryan Murphy.
Robins & Morton was the general contractor for the amphitheater. Matheny Goldmon Architecture + Interiors and David M. Shwarz Architects served as the architects.
