Excitement is Building at the Filene Center

Spring at Wolf Trap National Park always brings many changes to the campus, including warmer temperatures, nesting birds, and bright, budding flowers. But an even bigger transformation is blossoming this year—the new Meadow Commons building!

The three-story Meadow Commons will be about twice the size of the original, two-story 1971 Concessions stand that it replaces. Plus, the new complex will utilize the topography of the existing hillside and natural materials to help minimize impact on Park grounds. 

Since the close of the summer season in September 2023, construction and architectural partners L.F. Jennings and Gensler have tirelessly worked to bring the Meadow Commons to life.

Thanks to Our Donors and Partners

This addition to the Park’s campus is thanks to the many generous donors who contributed to the Campaign for Wolf Trap: Our Next Chapter.

Visionary donors to the Campaign for Wolf Trap attended a “Topping Out” Ceremony in March to celebrate the framing of the Meadow Commons.

Improvements for All

Accessibility has been a goal for the recent capital improvements, and the elevator banks within the Meadow Commons are taking shape. This long-awaited amenity will greatly improve accessibility and link the upper and lower levels of the Park. Patrons parked in handicapped-accessible areas  or dining at the pavilions will have a route connecting them to lower areas of the Park, including seating areas in the Filene Center theater.

The Meadow Commons will feature an attached picnic terrace to complement the three constructed in 2023 along the Meadow Overlook, further expanding the seating for community picnicking year-round. 

The Filene Center gate entrance closest to the building is also being enhanced with a permanent covered structure to protect staff and patrons as they pass through security and scan their tickets before the show.  

The top floor of the building will offer expanded Concessions service with five additional ordering windows, a state-of-the-art kitchen, and more picnic seating. With more than double the amount of food preparation space, the facility will be able to provide more offerings with quicker service.

New and additional restrooms will be modernized, expanded, and fully accessible. In addition to five new family style gender neutral restrooms, both the men’s and women’s bathrooms will have more stalls, with the women’s gaining seven more than the previous building to reduce wait times. 

On the middle level, a new donor retreat—Meadow Lounge—will offer Wolf Trap members at the Great Performer level and above a space to relax pre-show, just steps away from Orchestra seating.

The bottom level of the building will have a brand-new amenity—four convenient beverage refill windows—for those patrons who only want to purchase a drink.

Temporary fencing has been installed on the hill for the safety of our visitors and to accommodate construction vehicles and materials. The entire hill will be re-established starting in Spring 2024, when restoration and resodding will begin to regain the same slope.