June 11, 2024

New York, New York - An AIA Award is the ultimate acknowledgment of impactful, exemplary work in architecture and design, and recognizes those projects that set new standards of excellence and inspire others to innovate.

David Geffen Hall has received an AIA Design Excellence Award in the Interior Architecture program. The design of the re-imagined cultural landmark by Diamond Schmitt (Masterplan and Theatre) and Tod Williams and Billie Tsien Architects | Partners (Public Spaces) addresses the hall’s sound deficiencies and invigorates its public spaces, ushering it into the contemporary era without altering the Upper West Side building’s iconic envelope.

The design team’s interventions were focused on improving the entire concert-going experience. Extraneous ticket booths at the hall’s entrance were removed, and vertical circulation was shifted to the perimeter, more than doubling the lobby’s square footage. Relocating the escalators made way for a welcome center and restaurant on the ground floor, bolstering the number of campus amenities. In addition, the lobby space has been acoustically tuned to accommodate a wide range of performances, including simulcasts from within the hall that allow guests to experience performances without a paid ticket.

The existing concert hall has been transformed from a cavernous shoebox into a curvilinear, unified room with significantly improved acoustics and optimized sight lines. Based on acoustical principles, the team reduced seating from 2,700 to 2,200, a strategy that improves access to sound and shapes a stronger connection between audience and performer. CNC-milled beechwood panels, whose rippled form evokes a musical instrument, line the hall and contribute to the improved acoustics.

The immersive new home for the orchestra is a testament to Lincoln Center’s dedication to making arts and culture accessible to all.

Read more about the AIA award-winning David Geffen Hall here.