Heatherwick Studio and Diamond Schmitt Architects have been chosen to collaborate on the "renovation and reimagination" of David Geffen Hall, Lincoln Center’s largest concert hall in New York City. The team, chosen through a two-year competition and over 100 firms, will design a 21st-century concert hall for the New York Philharmonic home and transform it into a center capable of hosting "a broader, ongoing array of community activities and events."
"The inspiring combination of Heatherwick and Diamond Schmitt will bring contemporary design excellence, respect for the historic architecture of the hall, and extensive experience creating acoustically superb performance halls," said Katherine Farley, chairman of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
“We believe this pairing of Heatherwick and Diamond Schmitt offers the most compelling potential for the New York Philharmonic’s new home that will reflect the excellence and artistry of this Orchestra, as well as further enhance and support the Philharmonic’s evolution as a 21st-century institution,” said Oscar S. Schafer, chairman of the New York Philharmonic.
When complete, the new hall will also be the permanent home of Legends at Lincoln Center: "the Performing Arts Hall of Fame, which will honor and celebrate the performing arts and film represented at Lincoln Center every day."
“The New York Philharmonic creates some of the most incredible music in the world, so it deserves a world-class concert hall," commented Thomas Heatherwick. "Together with Diamond Schmitt Architects, we are excited to make this special institution and its classical music even more connected to New Yorkers and the audiences of the future.”
The $500 million project is expected to break ground in 2019.
