The Wharf DC, the much anticipated $2 billion development along D.C.’s Southwest waterfront, begins its grand opening celebrations tomorrow. Alongside more than a dozen restaurants and considerable retail space, the development will be a music hub with three new venues opening.

Union Stage, from the team at Jammin’ Java, and Pearl Street Warehouse offer more intimate settings, but it’s The Anthem, the venue from I.M.P.—the company behind the 9:30 Club—that is anchoring the entire development. The room hosts its grand opening tomorrow with a sold-out Foo Fighters performance.

“We’ve been looking for the next step up from the 9:30 Club probably for fifteen years,” says Donna Westmoreland, I.M.P.’s chief operating officer. “We looked at every space and every existing building that could be re-purposed in the D.C. area.”

Westmoreland and Seth Hurwitz, chairman of I.M.P., became aware of the waterfront project in 2010, and also caught wind of a need for an arts/cultural anchor tenant. Hurwitz contacted PN Hoffman, the principal developer, and the partnership began. The company had already been toying with the idea of focusing on local restauranteurs and retailers to occupy the space, so the idea resonated of having an independent, local promoter establish a performance space.

The result of this seven-year collaboration is a $60 million, 57,000 square-foot space that can hold between 2,500 and 6,000 people depending upon its configuration. This flexibility was a key component to the plans because I.M.P. has had to rent spaces ranging from Strathmore to the Patriot Center, and The Anthem had to be able to cover the gamut.

“You can control your own destiny and run things a little bit better that way,” Westmoreland explains “In all candor, there’s more opportunity to make ancillary money as bands take more and more of a piece.”

PN Hoffman selected the New York-based Rockwell Group to design the space. Rockwell had extensive experience in nightclub and concert venue design, including some of the flashiest performance spaces in Las Vegas. The firm’s reputation is one of achieving an aesthetic that balances elegance with a contemporary feel. I.M.P. also hired a firm, David M. Schwarz Architects, to be its architectural representative, and other engineering companies and designers were brought in as needed.

“There were many, many cooks in this kitchen,” Westmoreland jokes. “There were many meetings. Rockwell came up with the initial design, which was signed off on, and then the question became, ‘How do you make this the best music venue possible?'”

Many of I.M.P.’s requirements had to do with the infrastructure needed to support modern tours, which included stage clearance and power requirements, capacity to accommodate varying sound and lighting rigs, state of the art acoustic design, and backstage facilities that the audience will never see, but which are essential for drawing high quality acts who have notoriety, but are just at the threshold of being able to play large arenas.

Keeping an intimate feel in such a large space is difficult, but the multi-story lobby and patio areas above the marquee provide places for people to gather in between acts or during pre- and post-concert events. Both spots offer a good look at “Untitled Polyrhythm,” an installation by Dan Steinhilber made out of cymbals made by Sabian, one of the world’s prominent cymbal manufacturers.

As far as the listener is concerned, The Anthem offers a number of amenities aimed at creating an enjoyable concert experience. A floor level and two balconies with clear sight lines comprise the viewing area, which includes 450 “Super Excellent Seats.” The premium seating is available even during general admission events and each seat is angled to face the stage. Seven well-stocked wet bars and one coffee bar ensure lubrication, and the kitchen offers a variety of sandwiches, sweets, and finger foods to keep stomachs from growling.

The Anthem is holding smaller events this week as a soft-opening, including last night’s Andrew WK show for members of 9:30 Club’s Friends With Benefits program and a Foo Fighters concert tonight for radio station giveaway winners. This build-up gives the staff a chance to test everything from queuing protocols to point-of-sale computer systems to merchandise.

“We want to be able to hit the ground running,” Westmoreland said. “We want [the audience] to walk in and by wow-ed by the space, which we think they will, but also to be wow-ed by the experience.”

The Anthem has a convenient FAQ page with more information on the venue.

Previous coverage of the The Wharf:
By Land Or By River: City Officials Promote New Options To Get To The Wharf
The Wharf’s Grand Opening Involves Four Days Of Events, And Kevin Bacon Is Involved
Pearl Street Warehouse Announces Initial Lineup
Chef Kwame Onwuachi Makes His Return With Kith And Kin
Politics And Prose Will Open A New Store At The Wharf
Tickets For Sold-Out Foo Fighters Show Already Reselling For Thousands Of Dollars