Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Juilliard School

The emergence of The Juilliard School as one of the nation’s premier training academies in the arts brought with it the challenge of providing facilities that match Juilliard’s programmatic excellence. A new black box theatre, which doubles as a flexible rehearsal space, is one piece of a 100,000 square foot expansion and renovation of the school’s original Pietro Belluschi building. Part of the redevelopment of the Lincoln Center Campus by DSR, the theatre provides a convertible space that easily accommodates rehearsal and performance needs for pre-professional students.

Up to 100 seats can be placed on platforms along the length and width of the room or disappear into storage areas to uncover the resilient floor for performance and rehearsals. A palette of compatible robotic and stationary lighting fixtures is affixed via easily-accessed overhead rails. An easily movable steel gantry spans the width of the room and can slide along its entire length. In addition to being used to adjust overhead lighting fixtures, the gantry can be employed as an overhead stage for performers. The gantry is a key aspect of the design that allows for the room to be converted quickly from one use to the next. Other components of the expansion include an orchestra rehearsal space and recording studio, a large dance studio, and smaller studios, rehearsal rooms, classrooms and offices.