A giant transformation of David Geffen Hall has just been announced by Lincoln Center and the New York Philharmonic. It’s expected to be complete by 2024.
The $550 million project is being lead by Diamond Schmitt Architects, and is expected to be complete by March of 2024.
The project will transform the concert hall and all public spaces, enhancing the concertgoing experience, fostering a sense of community, and creating bold and innovative ways to connect with the world outside.
The new concert hall will introduce a “single-room” concept; the stage will be moved forward so that the seats will wrap around it. There will also be 500 fewer seats (for a total of 2,200), plus improved ADA accessibility.
The new Hall will be a highly flexible space with variable stage configurations designed to support a wide range of performance initiatives.
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The main lobby will also double in size and open up on three sides to connect with the campus. One of the most exciting new features will be a media streaming wall in the new lobby, which will display live concerts and events.
Union Square Hospitality Group is serving as consultants for food and beverage planning in the new David Geffen Hall.
The reconfigured and reenergized Grand Promenade will create one of the largest spaces for entertaining at a performance facility in New York City, welcoming over 1,000 people for event.
During performances, there will be expanded intermission seating and bar/food service, including enhanced access to the terrace and new promontories overlooking the main level.
A new addition called The Sidewalk Studio will be visible from the corner of 65th Street and Broadway. This will be a center for educational, artistic, and community activities.
The Lightwall will wrap around three sides of the interior top of the building, creating space for dynamic mood and architectural lighting. Behind the Lightwall will be 11,000 square feet of office space.
The north facade of the building will be turned into a “canvas” for site-specific works.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=”16″]This project is all about greater connections. The new concert hall will unite performers and audiences; the dynamic public spaces will allow our communities — from visiting schools to concertgoers wanting to stay for a drink — to connect with each other. And the whole project re-sets how we engage with the outside world.
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As a veteran of two major concert hall projects, I can say that the clear goals, the rigorous planning, and the actual design for the new David Geffen Hall give me confidence that this will be a singular success. The partnership we have formed with Lincoln Center is very real and very critical to all that is occurring. At long last, David Geffen Hall will be a superb and connected musical venue.
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The new Hall will open in March 2024, with two short closings: the first closing will be May 2022 through October 2022; the second closing will be May 2023 through February 2024, with the New York Philharmonic performing in other venues in New York City, including Carnegie Hall and New York City Center.
During the summers of 2022 and 2023, Lincoln Center’s Mostly Mozart Festival will be presented throughout the Lincoln Center campus. Henry Timms and Deborah Borda said: “This project is a commitment to our community, to the arts, and to New York. It has been inspiring to see our teams, our boards, and such a talented group of professionals come together to get us to this important milestone. We look forward to the next steps on our journey.”
