Helping Shape Raleigh’s Next Great Gathering Place

Client

City of Raleigh

Location

Raleigh, NC

Challenge

For nearly two decades, Red Hat Amphitheater has been a centerpiece of downtown Raleigh, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors each year and helping to shape the energy of the city’s growing downtown. Now it’s getting a new, better home.

To make way for the expansion of the Raleigh Convention Center, the City is relocating the amphitheater one block south. The new space will seat 6,000 people and serve as the first phase of a broader effort to expand convention capacity and support continued downtown growth. The existing amphitheater remains open during construction.

Building in this tight setting requires careful coordination, a strong focus on safety, clear communication, and the ability to respond quickly to challenges.

Solution

Throughout construction, Terracon helped project partners address subsurface challenges, verify critical construction elements, and support long-term facility performance through environmental consulting, materials testing, special inspections, building enclosure expertise, and real-time project reporting.

When petroleum-impacted soils were discovered, Terracon’s project manager quickly engaged our environmental professionals to assess the situation and help keep the project moving forward. They conducted soil borings and sampling, reviewed historical site information, coordinated with regulatory agencies, and developed a site-specific monitoring program to support worker and public health.

At the same time, Terracon’s construction materials testing and special inspection teams were helping verify critical components of the project, including foundations, retaining walls, concrete, masonry, structural steel, paving, and underground infrastructure. Building enclosure specialists supported the project through design reviews, construction observations, and performance testing recommendations intended to help protect the long-term durability of the facility.

In a busy downtown setting, communication and coordination were just as important as technical expertise. Through timely reporting, close collaboration, and access to project information through Compass, Terracon’s project portal, stakeholders had visibility into testing, inspections, and field observations as work progressed.

Results

Unexpected site conditions could have threatened the schedule of a project that serves as the first step in Raleigh’s broader convention center expansion. Instead, environmental oversight, testing, inspections, and ongoing communication helped teams address site challenges quickly while confirming everything from foundations and concrete to structural steel was built and placed as intended.

Today, construction remains on track for the 2027 concert season. While the original amphitheater continues hosting performances nearby, its successor is taking shape just one block away, positioning both the new venue and the convention center expansion for the next chapter of downtown Raleigh.