Name: Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Address: Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023
Telephone: (212) 875-5456
Rating: 4.8

Multi-venue complex home to many prominent groups like Metropolitan Opera & New York City Ballet.

Central Park

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Times Square

Rockefeller Center

Statue of Liberty

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Lincoln Center spans 16.3 acres, making it one of the world's largest performing arts complexes.

Acres of Culture

Lincoln Center is home to 30 indoor and outdoor performance facilities, including the Metropolitan Opera House, David Geffen Hall, and the David H. Koch Theater.

Indoor and Outdoor Performance Venues

The original 1961 film version of 'West Side Story' filmed several scenes on location at Lincoln Center while it was under construction.

Filming Location

The Revson Fountain in the central plaza is known for its dramatic water displays and has become a beloved meeting place.

Centerpiece Fountain

David Geffen Hall, home to the New York Philharmonic, was originally named Philharmonic Hall when it opened in 1962.

Former Name

The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, located at Lincoln Center, is one of the world's largest libraries dedicated to the performing arts.

Performing Arts Library

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts

Lincoln Center, a sprawling complex on Manhattan's Upper West Side, is more than just a collection of performance venues; it represents a concentrated effort to revitalize a blighted urban area through the power of art. Its construction in the 1960s displaced numerous residents and businesses, a controversial aspect often overshadowed by its cultural contributions. The iconic Revson Fountain, designed by Philip Johnson, is not merely decorative; its intricate water patterns are meticulously engineered to withstand New York's fluctuating weather conditions. The center's constituent organizations, including the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Ballet, and New York Philharmonic, maintain distinct artistic identities while sharing the common ground of Lincoln Center. Did you know that Avery Fisher Hall, now David Geffen Hall, underwent multiple acoustical renovations in attempts to perfect its sound, a testament to the elusive nature of sonic perfection? The complex also houses the Juilliard School, fostering the next generation of performing artists within its hallowed halls.

Introduction

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts emerged from the "Lincoln Square Renewal Project," a significant component of Robert Moses's urban renewal initiatives in New York during the 1950s and 1960s, aimed at revitalizing the city's Upper West Side. John D. Rockefeller III spearheaded the project, raising over half of the $184.5 million in private funds needed for construction. This ambitious undertaking involved the displacement of over 7,000 residents and 800 businesses from the San Juan Hill area of Lincoln Square to make way for the 16.3-acre complex.

The project sought to create a centralized location for the performing arts, integrating various artistic disciplines onto a single campus. Key architects were commissioned to design the major buildings, including the David Geffen Hall, David H. Koch Theater, and the Metropolitan Opera House, which opened between 1962 and 1966.

Later developments, such as the completion of the condominium at 3 Lincoln Center in 1991, facilitated the expansion of The Juilliard School and the School of American Ballet. A major redevelopment plan, launched in 2006 and completed in 2012, modernized the campus with improved accessibility and aesthetics, including the addition of the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center and enhancements to the main plazas and Columbus Avenue Grand Stairs. More recently, plans announced in 2023 include renovating the western end of the complex to improve access and integration with the surrounding community, specifically the Amsterdam Houses housing development.

Urban Renewal Project

Lincoln Center's campus redevelopment, initiated in March 2006 and continuing through 2012, aimed to modernize and enhance the 16-acre complex. A key aspect was the 65th Street Project, which created a pedestrian promenade to improve accessibility and aesthetics. Alice Tully Hall was modernized, and Film at Lincoln Center expanded with the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center, featuring a sloping lawn roof and the restaurant Lincoln. Diller Scofidio + Renfro, in association with FXFOWLE Architects and Beyer Blinder Belle Architects, provided design services, with Turner Construction Company and RCDolner, LLC managing construction.

The redevelopment also included the David Rubenstein Atrium, designed by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects, offering visitor services, free performances, and Wi-Fi. A 1999 announcement detailed a $1.5 billion, 10-year plan for radical transformation, though a full-scale redesign wasn't approved until 2012 due to funding and concerns from the New York Philharmonic.

In 2019, Diamond Schmitt Architects were appointed for the master plan and renovation of David Geffen Hall, which reopened in 2022 as the Wu Tsai Theatre. Further renovations, announced in 2023, address the western end of the complex, including removing a retaining wall to improve access from the Amsterdam Houses. Hood Design Studio and WEISS/MANFREDI are designing this phase, which will cost $335 million and include a new Amsterdam Avenue entrance, park, and outdoor performance area. The Stavros Niarchos Foundation is a Founding Partner, contributing significantly to the project.

Campus Redevelopment

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts stands as a significant example of postwar American performing arts center design, reaching its peak during the 1960s and 1970s. Designed and constructed between 1955 and 1969, the complex transformed Manhattan's Lincoln Square neighborhood into a cultural hub. The Lincoln Center Building Committee, led by John D. Rockefeller 3rd, collaborated with city leaders, urban planners, architects, and engineers to facilitate the rise of culture through performing arts center design in mid-20th century New York.

Originally conceived by Gordon Bunshaft, Philip Johnson, Eero Saarinen, and others, Lincoln Center underwent a renovation and redesign to reinterpret its modernist genetic code, addressing social and political changes. Diller Scofidio + Renfro in association with FXFOWLE Architects and Beyer Blinder Belle Architects provided the design services for the redevelopment project.

The project touched many aspects of the campus, including public spaces, the Juilliard School, Alice Tully Hall, and the School of American Ballet. Public space projects included a new grand entrance, a redesigned main plaza and fountain, and a network of smart technologies integrated with traditional building materials. The addition of the David Rubenstein Atrium, designed by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects, serves as a visitor's center and gateway, offering free performances, day-of-discount tickets, food, and free Wi-Fi. Diamond Schmitt Architects was appointed Design and Executive Architect for the master plan and renovation of David Geffen Hall. In 2023, plans were announced to renovate the western end of the complex, with Hood Design Studio and Weiss/Manfredi hired to design the renovation.

Architectural Significance

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts is home to eleven resident arts organizations, each contributing uniquely to the center's cultural significance. As the primary advocate for the entire Lincoln Center campus, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts fosters collaboration and deepens the impact across its resident organizations, championing inclusion and increasing accessibility to the arts.

Among these resident organizations are the New York Philharmonic, an internationally renowned symphony orchestra, and the Metropolitan Opera, which has presented U.S. and world premieres of significant operas. The Starr Foundation has significantly supported both, including the NY Phil's free Concerts in the Parks and the Met Opera's Lindemann Young Artist Development Program.

Other resident organizations include the Lincoln Center Theater, the largest not-for-profit theater in the United States, and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, known for its performances in the Starr Theater within Alice Tully Hall and its commissioning of new works. Jazz at Lincoln Center promotes the appreciation of jazz through performances, education, and advocacy, engaging students and adults through various programs. These organizations collectively contribute to Lincoln Center's role as a premier performing arts center, impacting New York City’s cultural and economic wellbeing.

Resident Arts Organizations

The Lincoln Center Campus Fund embodies a cultural innovation fund, channeling corporate support to amplify the missions of its ten resident arts organizations. Since 1969, the Campus Fund has engaged New York City's leading industries through corporate memberships, leadership councils, and annual events, fostering employee engagement and celebrating industry partnerships to advance the performing arts. The fund aims to deepen the impact of the performing arts on New York City residents and visitors, reinforcing Lincoln Center’s role as a hub for innovative cultural experiences.

The Campus Fund envisions a Lincoln Center free from financial constraints, empowering resident arts organizations to invest in groundbreaking performances, expand arts education, and enhance accessibility. Campus Fund Membership provides executives and employees with benefits ranging from discounted performances and special event invitations to tailored client and employee engagement opportunities. Marquee events offer exclusive opportunities to reward talent, engage clients, and inspire teams through cultural experiences, championing the future of the arts in New York City. Contributions to the Lincoln Center Campus Fund directly support the enduring legacy of its ten resident arts organizations.

Additionally, Lincoln Center's Collider Fellowship supports artists at the forefront of their fields with a nine-month residency to explore how technology can enhance in-person performing arts experiences. Fellows receive studio space, financial stipends, and artistic and administrative support, encouraging collaboration and innovation.

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts

Did You Know?

Acres of Culture

Indoor and Outdoor Performance Venues

Filming Location

Centerpiece Fountain

Highlights from Reviews

Location