New York City Center Announces Renovation Plans

New York City Center has formally announced its plans for its upcoming $75 million renovation of its home on West 55th Street. The renovation, which is being designed by Polshek Partnership Architects, will take place in two stages, from late April through September 2010 and from mid-March through October 2011, in order not to disrupt the Center’s regular programming, which includes the Encores! series and Fall for Dance.

A new canopy on the exterior with additional exterior lighting and signage, subject to the approval of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, will announce the theater’s presence more visibly on the street and define the building more dramatically within its urban context. In the interior, the original box office lobby and mezzanine lobby will be faithfully restored, and several dramatic new spaces will be introduced, including an expanded and redesigned street level lobby and a new patrons’ lounge that capitalizes on an existing alley space. The number of restroom facilities of the theater will be increased by fifty percent.

Upgrades to the auditorium will include the re-sloping of the floors to improve sightlines within the house, and the reconfiguration, respacing and resizing of theater seating throughout to make it compatible with contemporary standards and to provide more comfort and improved ADA accessibility for all patrons.

Back of house improvements will include a new “sprung” stage floor suitable for dance, all new theatrical support systems, a completely refurbished dressing room tower, and ADA accessible toilets for the performers.

Approximately three-quarters of the funding for the renovation has been raised; the City of New York has committed over $35 million to the renovation.

For more information, visit www.nycitycenter.org.