Client: 
Lincoln Center West Initiative
Location:
New York, NY
Program:
Renovation of Outdoor Performance Park and Amsterdam Ave. Corridor
Area:
110,000 sq.ft.
Construction Budget:
$335M
Completion Date:
Summer 2028
Role on Project:
Project Manager, Architect of Record

Moody Nolan

The Lincoln Center West Initiative reframes Damrosch Park as a civic performance landscape that expands access to the performing arts while embedding cultural programming within the everyday life of the surrounding neighborhood. Rather than treating the park as a seasonal or inward-facing venue, the project repositions it as an open, public-facing extension of Lincoln Center, broadening participation and engaging a more diverse audience through both large-scale performances and informal daily use.

At the core of the initiative is a new state-of-the-art Theater Building, enabling Lincoln Center to host world-class performances for up to approximately 2,000 guests. Designed to support major programming such as Summer for the City, the venue also accommodates neighborhood and community-based organizations, reinforcing the park’s role as a shared cultural resource. Conceived as a permanent amphitheater, the performance environment pairs a fixed theater structure with an open plaza that allows for flexible audience seating, adaptable staging, and multiple modes of engagement.

Equally transformative is the project’s redefinition of Lincoln Center’s relationship to Amsterdam Avenue. A new streetscape and garden entrances remove the long-standing visual and physical barrier at Damrosch Park, creating a more welcoming and legible edge to the campus. Within the park, new community spaces organized around a water feature and expansive lawn, supported by generous seating and movable chairs, invite gathering, lingering, and everyday occupation. Together, these interventions position Damrosch Park as both a world-class performance venue and an active public landscape, balancing cultural spectacle with sustained civic life.