NEW YORK THEATRE WORKSHOP

NEW YORK, NY

We worked with New York Theater Workshop for six years, helping them gradually grow and create a permanent home. For three years, we helped evaluate possible places for NYTW’s new home, creating preliminary designs and helping with project budgets.

NYTW acquired a warehouse for the theater, for which we produced a phased development plan.

First, a modest theater was created inside the former warehouse with minimal alteration, in order to get NYTW functioning. Later, renovations were made to an adjacent building, purchased by NYTW, for offices and rehearsal studios.

The third phase of construction raised the roof of the theater, enhancing the theater’s production capability. A new façade and lobby were created. The theater’s interior design was substantially altered, changing proportion, texture, rhythm and color. New stage rigging and lighting were installed along with new heating, ventilating and air conditioning. Future work includes expansion of the main theater stage, seating and support areas.

A master plan has been created which outlines future development of each of the buildings and links between them. This plan is used as an active tool to explore new program ideas. Project sequences are adjusted to accommodate pressing needs and practical availability of time and money. All new construction is coordinated with the master plan to avoid wasteful re-working.

Completed: 1997
Cost: $800,000