MECU Pavilion Renovations

McLaren Engineering Group has been performing renovations on the iconic MECU Pavilion, formerly known as Pier Six Pavilion, since we participated on the original deign team for the permanent structure in 1990, keeping it a staple in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor for decades.

The waterfront entertainment venue located on Pier Six opened as a temporary structure in 1981. It was constructed as the iconic permanent tent structure in 1991 and has undergone extensive renovations over the years with McLaren providing structural engineering, survey services and marine engineering for all phases.

MECU Pavillion’s Renovations Through the Years

McLaren has provided a range of professional engineering services over the MECU Pavilion‘s lifetime, one of Baltimore’s most iconic structures. Through several owners, McLaren has worked on the original pavilion and through several rounds of renovations to keep this public gathering space functioning in pristine condition.

• In 2018: McLaren’s structural, civil, and surveying teams worked on the pavilion, newly acquired by Live Nation. In addition to the replacement of 2,800 seats and updates to production offices, restrooms, and concession stands, the overhaul included a new tensile fabric cover and minor modifications to the overall shape of the pavilion. Work included topographic and boundary survey, existing conditions and site plans, permitting assistance through Baltimore City, structural analysis of the existing H-pile and pile cap foundation system support of the renovated tensile fabric structure and condition assessment of existing perimeter struts and tie-downs. The existing support structure framing and foundations were re-used, eliminating the need for additional materials cost. McLaren also provided guidance on heavy equipment access limits, in an effort to prevent damage to the existing pavilion foundation structures and the bulkhead.
• In 2016: The team provided a complete property condition assessment inspecting tie-downs, struts and accessible portions of the pile caps.
• In 2008: One of the tie-downs failed during a severe wind event, due to deterioration of its foundation connections. To extend the service life of the facility, McLaren performed structural engineering for the repairs to damaged strut and tie-down assemblies, designing new tie-down assemblies and attachments to the existing pile foundations.
• In 1991: The superstructure was designed. McLaren provided structural engineering and fabric connecting details, cabling and foundations design and analysis of existing piles for reuse in the new pavilion. Marine engineering services including inspection and repair of the pier and concrete sheet pile bulkhead were provided. By performing an analysis of existing pile foundations for re-use, we were able to reduce the cost of new pile installation.