Andrew J Brady ICON Music Venue

Project Narrative

The Andrew J Brady ICON Music Center (the ICON) connects audiences to live music and has reshaped how people engage with public space public space along Cincinnati’s riverfront.

Seating 4,400 people on three levels fosters the feeling of an intensely personal experience—for both patron and performer. The grand staircase helps extend the experience beyond the performance by moving people throughout the building to enjoy additional views or a drink on the balcony overlooking the historic Roebling Bridge. The ICON’s purposeful design compliments Cincinnati’s existing Smale Park, creating an inviting experience to linger and socialize.

Three different architectural elements come together to create the ICON’s distinct appearance: the black box of the performance space creates an intimate performance environment; the white box creates social space to see and be seen; the veil captures and focuses spectacular views of The Banks, the Ohio River, and the Roebling Bridge. Clad in a ribbed, perforated, and color changing material, the veil’s sculptural elements produce an iconic design for the venue with the cityscape.

Preserving views was a key design inspiration, including views to the stage. Inside, the venue’s rhythmic wall pattern and oxblood accent color contribute to an edgy, inviting, and unique experience before, during, and after the show

                                           

Project Details

Submission Category

Building Architecture- Large Scale (>10,000 sf)

Date of Completion

June, 2021