A.R.T./New York Theatres
New York, NY, USA
2017

The A.R.T./New York Theatre project will fit-out raw space on three floors of an existing residential building in New York City.  A.R.T./New York is a service and advocacy organization for over 350 not-for-profit theaters throughout New York City, providing the Off Broadway community with support through grants, loans, and affordable office, meeting and rehearsal rental spaces.  The space within the Archstone Clinton building will provide A.R.T./New York and their member groups with two 99-seat rental theatre spaces and ancillary programs including dressing rooms, prop shops, storage, control booths, and offices.  Given the diversity in A.R.T/New York’s member theatre companies and types of productions, it was crucial to the design to provide optimum flexibility in stage arrangement and seating configurations, thus promoting a creative environment that may adapt to each unique production. 

The existing irregular column grid and access to natural light within the spaces presented seemingly unwelcome characteristics of a theater space.  Rather than perceive these as disadvantages, the design develops and enhances these unusual attributes, turning them into assets.  In the Light Box Theater, the design anchors the performance space around four existing columns, using moveable partitions to transform the space and allow for a variety of seating and stage configurations including proscenium, thrust, and in-the-round, in addition to creative non-traditional orientations.  The retracted partitions allow for natural light to enter the theater space, introducing light for rehearsal, costuming and set building, and events before and after performances.  The partitions work acoustically in conjunction with a second layer of acoustic glazing placed at the existing perimeter windows, allowing for a simultaneous high level of acoustic performance and natural light in the theatre.  The project is expected to achieve LEED Silver certification upon completion. 

Credits:

Design Team: Toshiko Mori, Sonya Lee, Christy Cheng, Hye-Young Chung
Structural, MEP, Fire Protection, Theater Planning, Lighting: Arup

Photographs © Michael Moran