林肯中心阿姆斯特丹大道翻新项目丨荷兰阿姆斯特丹

Weiss/Manfredi, Hood Design Studio, and Moody Nolan to design new Amsterdam Avenue enhancements at Lincoln Center

Photo: Iñaki Vinaixa for Lincoln Center

The new Amsterdam Avenue face of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts will be designed by a team that includes Weiss/Manfredi, Hood Design Studio, and Moody Nolan, the beloved New York City cultural institution announced Monday.

The revitalization plan entails first a radical overhaul of Damrosch Park, which will be transformed into a dynamic new outdoor area for artistic performance and public gatherings. All three firms will impart their extensive experience in public realm designs that has recently included work on the International African American Museum in Charleston, South Carolina and master plan of the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum in Los Angeles, respectively.

East side of Amsterdam Avenue, north of 62nd Street. Photo by Lawrence Sumulong

The design will take shape in response to a participatory planning process that drew the opinions of over 3,400 New Yorkers and surviving former residents of San Juan Hill, the neighborhood that was demolished to make way for the 14-year urban renewal that made room for Lincoln Center in the late-50s and early-60s. The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) is a partner for the project and will hope for a repeat of the successes seen in its Beyer Blinder Belle and Mecanoo - led redesign of the NYPL’s former Mid-Manhattan Library from 2021.

View of Lincoln Center campus looking east; areas of exploration are shaded. Map Data © 2023 Google

Hood Design Studio’s founder Walter Hood said the project represents a “pivotal opportunity to reshape Lincoln Center’s relationship with the city.”

Damrosch Park looking west; Amsterdam Houses is seen in background. Photo by NADAAA

Amsterdam Avenue looking east towards New York Public Library for the Performing Arts entrance. Photo by Lawrence Sumulong

“As the largest African American-owned architecture firm in the country, we are deeply committed to community-driven design and engagement, and it’s a privilege to collaborate with Lincoln Center on this transformative project," Moody Nolan’s CEO Jonathan Moody added. "By harnessing the power of collective insight and embracing the diverse perspectives of the surrounding community, we aim to reimagine the Amsterdam Avenue side of campus to ensure it not only reflects the vibrancy of the city but also serves as a welcoming space for all, resonating with the spirit of inclusivity and accessibility that defines our practice and our values.”

Along 62nd Street looking north toward Damrosch Park. Photo by Lawrence Sumulong

East side of Damrosch Park, looking south. Photo by Lawrence Sumulong

Eastern end of Damrosch Park, looking south. Photo by Lawrence Sumulong

This of course backs up to the completed renovation of David Geffen Hall performed by Tod Williams Billie Tsien and Diamond Schmitt at a cost of $550 million.

Amsterdam Avenue and 62nd Street looking towards Damrosch Park. Photo by Lawrence Sumulong.

The announcement follows Weiss/Manfredi’s big Louis I. Kahn Award win last week and the appointment of Walter Hood as chair of UC Berkeley’s Landscape Architecture& Environmental Planning(LEAP)department last year. No construction timelines or project costs for the revitalization were made available at press time. The results of the public feedback process are available here.