David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center*

West 65th Street Project

Designed by the critically acclaimed architectural firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro in collaboration with FXFOWLE Architects, the plan will unite the street with the surrounding cityscape. The design embraces the spirit of the original 1960’s architecture, while incorporating elements of transparency to create a new language celebrating the vitality of the cultural complex today. The West 65th Street design will open up Lincoln Center and encourage the interaction of thousands of visitors and more than 5,000 artists, teachers, and students who work and practice every day in the 81 practice and 80 rehearsal rooms, 13 dance studios, and 13 stages and concert halls that border West 65th Street. In addition to the extensive renovation of Alice Tully Hall, the design will create a “Street of the Arts” lined on both sides with new building facades, innovative visitor information systems, dramatic lighting, and new indoor and outdoor facilities for dining and refreshments. The Project includes major facility expansion and a new destination restaurant with a public roof lawn on the North Plaza, and a dramatic new street-level identity for six resident organizations: The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, The Film Society of Lincoln Center, The Juilliard School, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Lincoln Center Theater and the School of American Ballet. (North Plaza will open as Hearst Plaza; the roof lawn will open as Illumination Lawn)

The innovative West 65th Street Project also features an extensive renovation of Alice Tully Hall. One of the most popular venues at Lincoln Center—hosting more than 750 activities a year—the Hall has not undergone a major renovation since its opening in 1969. To address its outdated public amenities and inadequate performer support, Alice Tully Hall has undergone a major aesthetic and functional transformation to make it a more welcoming destination.

Lincoln Center Promenade

Drawing upon the same design vocabulary and palette of materials being used in Lincoln Center’s inaugural West 65th Street Project—glass, travertine, new landscape features, and integrated information technologies for enhancing the visitor experience—the Promenade Project is designed to further unite Lincoln Center with the surrounding cityscape. Construction for the project is being integrated into West 65th Street construction activity.

Diller Scofidio + Renfro in association with Beyer Blinder Belle have created a plan to rebuild Lincoln Center’s primary entryway along Columbus Avenue, and to upgrade and reenergize the adjacent Josie Robertson Plaza. The new design will reconfigure the vehicular and pedestrian approach to the Plaza from Columbus Avenue by sinking the existing service road that leads up to the Plaza below street level, and by dramatically expanding the current staircase to the Plaza from the street. (The new lower-level approach will open as Roslyn and Elliot Jaffe Family Drive.)

Considered by many as the main lobby to the entire campus, Josie Robertson Plaza—the open public space with its central Revson Fountain set into a distinctive patterned pavement designed by Philip Johnson—also will be updated. The Plaza pavement masonry will be totally renovated, and the Fountain will be enhanced with new lighting and technical upgrades.

A new 3,500-square-foot green space adjacent to the David H. Koch Theater at 62nd Street and Columbus Avenue continues Diller Scofidio + Renfro’s innovative and dynamic design to transform the Lincoln Center campus, creating a more inviting entrance at the southeast portion of the campus and providing a shaded and quiet place to congregate. It will be one of many new public spaces on the Lincoln Center campus to relax. (This feature will open as Charles B. Benenson Grove.)

David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center

In a related project Lincoln Center will transform the Harmony Atrium, a privately owned public space (POPS) located between Broadway and Columbus Avenue between West 62nd Street and West 63rd Street, into a lively community gathering place and gateway to the performing arts campus. The new visitor space will extend the threshold of Lincoln Center as part of the overall revitalization initiative to renovate, modernize and open up the 16-acre campus.

The innovative visitor space design by the renowned architectural firm Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects will transform the underutilized atrium into a vibrant “theatrical garden,” combining natural elements and an engaging program of activities. An important new resource for neighbors, visitors, students and Lincoln Center patrons, the redesigned atrium will boast an inviting platform for Target Free Thursdays (free weekly performances); a dynamic media wall; a staffed visitor services information desk; public restrooms; free internet access; and an attractive, full-service café. It also will serve as the departure point for tours of Lincoln Center’s halls and public spaces, and will disseminate information on neighborhood and community events.

A signature feature of the 7,000-square-foot public space will be a centralized box office that, for the first time, will enable audiences to purchase available same-day tickets, with up to 50% discounts, to performances presented by Lincoln Center and its world class resident organizations. Interactive internet and telephone ticketing kiosks also will offer access to available full-price tickets for all events presented on the campus. (The discount ticket facility will be named in recognition of Donald and Barbara Zucker.)

Lincoln Center Promenade*                West 65th Street Project*

*Renderings
West 65th Street Project: Diller Scofidio + Renfro in association with FXFOWLE Architects
Promenade Project: Diller Scofidio + Renfro in association Beyer Blinder Belle Architects and Planners
David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center: Tod Williams Billie Tsien, Architects

Transforming Lincoln Center

Lincoln Center is the world’s leading performing arts center, uniting on one campus 12 of the finest performing arts and educational organizations located anywhere. After nearly five decades of artistic excellence and service to its community, the nation, and the world, Lincoln Center has embarked upon a major transformation initiative to fully modernize its concert halls and public spaces, renew its 16-acre urban campus, and reinforce its vitality for decades to come.

Much of Lincoln Center’s infrastructure and many of its notable performance and educational facilities require renovation, and in some cases, considerable expansion. Changes in public needs and interests also inspired a thorough reconsideration of the campus’ original design in the context of current and future programming priorities. These factors became the framework for a campus-wide planning initiative, which resulted in the West 65th Street and Promenade projects—scheduled to be substantially completed for Lincoln Center’s 50th Anniversary celebration in 2009–2010.

A related project will be the transformation of the Harmony Atrium, a privately owned public space between Broadway and Columbus Avenue and West 62nd and 63rd Streets, into a vibrant public community and cultural space offering free performances, food service, information, and discount tickets to available Lincoln Center events.

In addition, the shared home of New York City Ballet and New York City Opera will at times be under construction during 2009 to modernize and enhance the artistic and visitor experience. Formerly Lincoln Center’s New York State Theater, the venue has been renamed the David H. Koch Theater in honor of his $100 million lead gift to the joint capital campaigns of the two companies.