The Ponte Vedra Concert Hall has officially begun construction on an outdoor deck after receiving a $50,000 donation from the Friends of the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall on Nov. 15.
“It took us the better part of a year to raise the funds, but all of our members and members of the public that participated in our raffles and fundraising events were very generous, and we were very happy to be successful and to get this project off the ground,” said Steve Gard, president of the Friends of the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall.
The 925-square-foot deck will accommodate approximately 125 people, and according to St. Johns County Cultural Events Division Director Ryan Murphy, the project has been years in the making.
“We’ve been looking at it for the last couple years, and really looked to extend that concessions area out,” Murphy said. “We have the problem of people becoming a little loud in the concessions when it’s a quiet concert—it’s a nice buffer area for people who still want to talk.”
With hopes of accommodating those who prefer a more social experience without disturbing the atmosphere of the hall, the idea for an outdoor deck was born. Featuring a full bar and access to onsite food trucks, the expansion will increase the concert hall’s overall concessions offerings.
“The deck is going to add not only to the concert experiences, but the weddings and special events we do,” Murphy added. “Along with it, we’re doing a lot of touch-ups inside the concert hall, so by the time we start the season in 2018, it’ll have a whole new look to it. It’s going to be really nice.”
Construction on the deck is expected to be completed by the end of December, and a grand opening celebration is currently scheduled for mid-January.
“There’s going to be a lot of exciting changes right out of the gate in 2018, and I think it’s just symbolic of things to come,” Murphy said.
