Recognized as one of New York City’s best live music venues, the Lehman Center for the Performing Arts was recently reopened in time to celebrate 40 years of great music and performances at Lehman College’s Bronx campus. The new renovation and addition breathes new life into to a 1970’s brutalist structure and creates a vibrant new entrance to the college. 2020 Chicago Athenaeum American Architecture Award
Recognized as one of New York City’s best live music venues, the Lehman Center for the Performing Arts was recently reopened in time to celebrate 40years of great music and performances at Lehman College’s Bronx campus. The new renovation and addition breathes new life into to a 1970’s brutalist structure and creates a vibrant new entrance to the college. The primary mission of the Center is to bring affordable, high quality and culturally diverse performances from around the world to the Bronx. In addition to its central functions as a concert and performance hall, the facility is an integral component in the life of the college and the surrounding neighborhood; hosting a range of functions including lectures, seminars, recitals and graduation ceremonies for many of the area high schools. Seen from the elevated subway station to the east, the new addition to the Performing Arts Center is a glowing and visible presence in the wider community.
The new glazed entrance pavilion, which adds 6,000 square feet of additional program, includes an expanded box office, administrative offices, restrooms and support spaces. Specific upgrades to the 2,300 seat theater include a larger mezzanine lobby, a new concession stand and new interior finishes. A primary objective of the renovation was to make the building accessible – in every sense of the word. The transparent glass addition contrasts with the solidity of the existing building’s opaque, limestone façade allowing views of the activities within the building, giving the structure a more welcoming and open appearance. New ramps, lifts and an elevator provide routes to ADA accessible seating areas added at multiple levels within the hall so that all spectators have options for viewing positions and ticket prices.
Board-formed concrete walls enclose new bathrooms, mechanical and support spaces. The material was chosen for its structural properties as well as its compatibility with the color and texture of the limestone façade, and exposed concrete surfaces within the hall. To increase energy performance, the west-facing glazing has integrated louvers that protects from solar heat gain, an independent heating and cooling system so that administrative areas can be conditioned separately from the main hall, and a highly-insulated building envelope detailed to minimize thermal bridging.
By opening a formerly impenetrable volume, the renovation has renewed the spirit of the concert hall and provides a dynamic and inviting venue for students and the public to experience quality performers from around the world.
Board-formed concrete walls enclose new bathrooms, mechanical and support spaces. The material was chosen for its structural properties as well as its compatibility with the color and texture of the limestone façade, and exposed concrete surfaces within the hall. To increase energy performance, the west-facing glazing has integrated louvers that protects from solar heat gain, an independent heating and cooling system so that administrative areas can be conditioned separately from the main hall, and a highly-insulated building envelope detailed to minimize thermal bridging. By opening a formerly impenetrable volume, the renovation has renewed the spirit of the concert hall and provides a dynamic and inviting venue for students and the public to experience quality performers from around the world.
Awards and Publications:2020 Chicago Athenaeum American Architecture Award