Goodbye Onion; Hello Locally Designed Riverfront Amphitheatre

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Downtown Windsor’s Riverfront Festival Plaza is getting a new stage to replace the aging “onion”, and the design comes to us from local Windsor firm Architectural Design Associates in association with Michigan’s JPRA Architects and Windsor’s own Matthew Woods.

Yes, you may have heard that the project has come in with a $2 million dollar overage, but that cost is the result of significant improvements to the design and functionality of the new Stage.

Originally intended as a simple replacement for the candy-striped dome stage — the staple of such concerts as Bluesfest — the City of Windsor sought to give the project 110% and reconstruct the entire festival area into a single civic gathering spot.

The new stage will face east (the old stage faces west), and will incorporate a raised pavilion for access to Riverside Drive and McDougall Avenue.

City Council approved the construction of the stage and site, to be completed by DeAngelis Construction Inc. in time for next Summer’s festival season.

Check out these architectural renderings courtesy of ADA, JPRA and Matt Woods: