David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center; Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects
Many New Yorkers have a Love/Hate relationship with Lincoln Center. But we want to love it, and so keep coming back even though it sometimes disappoints us (as Miss Tully has done again and again).
I am counting on a metronome swing far into the love side with the opening of the new David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center.
This prime location started life as a bonus plaza, a well intentioned but seriously abused zoning program allowing higher, bulkier ugliness in one of the ugliest buildings in the Lincoln Square neighborhood, the Harmony Building (designed by Philip Birnbaum, and completed in 1978). The original dismal space, a T-shaped “arcade” connecting Broadway, Columbus Ave and 62nd Street, always seemed severely neglected, and lack of use by the pedestrian public allowed it to become a haven for the neighborhood homeless. For a while a climbing wall was added and brought some youth activity, but after a few years the novelty wore off as teens and tikes together turned their attention to texting, and the operator closed. The ugly tarp over the wall to prevent unharnessed climbing added to the torn and tattered ambiance.
Not sure of what deals were worked out by all the involved parties, and disappointed with the way Alice Tully Hall lobby and café 65 are being managed, (which is not a bonus plaza space) I feared some sort of sneaky removal of bonus plaza status in exchange for renovation and upkeep. I am happy to report that is not the case.
Photos and more, after the jump.
