Lincoln Center Unveils Renderings For $335 Million Project That Includes New Outdoor Theater And Removal Of Much-Hated Block-Length Wall

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts today announced the preliminary design for a $335 million transformation of the west side of its Manhattan campus, a project that will include the creation of a new outdoor performance space, community park spaces and the removal of a long-hated wall that separates the cultural institution from its westernmost neighborhood.

The project, designed by Hood Design Studio (Landscape Architect), Weiss/Manfredi Architecture/Landscape/Urbanism (Design Architect) and Moody Nolan (Architect of Record), creates what Lincoln Center describes as “a new, world-class performance venue that will greatly improve artist and audience experiences.”

See before and after images below.

Other key elements of the project, as described by Lincoln Center:

The latter element – the “welcoming entrance” – addresses what has long been seen as something of a neighborhood blight: A block-long wall that’s as unattractive as it is ostracizing, a cold-shoulder to the its neighbors across Amsterdam Avenue including public housing complex known as Amsterdam Houses, LaGuardia High School, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Educational Complex.

In its announcement today, Lincoln Center officials said the project is a response to “local communities’ desire” to remove the wall that runs along the campus’ Damrosch Park. The wall will be replaced with “a series of welcoming transition spaces from the street into Lincoln Center’s iconic campus.”

The new design incorporates extensive community feedback from an ongoing participatory process that began in 2023, which Lincoln Center says includes feedback from local neighbors, New York City Housing Authority residents, community groups, students, and New Yorkers in general.

“The design balances the interventions made to the east side of Lincoln Center’s campus more than a decade ago,” the announcement says, “which created more welcoming outdoor spaces on the north and east of campus needed to deliver on its founding mission of the arts for all.”

The $335 million capital campaign has raised 65% to-date, including support from the Lincoln Center of Performing Arts Board of Directors, as well as a $10 million commitment from the State of New York. According to Lincoln Center, construction is expected to begin next spring and be completed by spring 2028.

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation is a Founding Partner with a $75 million grant that includes their initial support when the project began and builds upon their support of free programming throughout Summer for the City and the ongoing Legacies of San Juan Hill initiative.

A lead gift from The Starr Foundation provides “invaluable support, anchoring the project which aligns with its longstanding support of the arts, culture, and vital New York communities.”

The project is being undertaken in coordination with NYC Parks and NYC Department of Transportation. Damrosch Park is mapped city parkland maintained and operated by LCPA.