Project Description
FROM THE AIA NEW YORK STATE:
The design of the Theatre for a New Audience at Polonsky Shakespeare Center reflects the new building’s function as a laboratory for modern theatrical interpretation of classical plays. Thesimple form of the building belies its structural complexity and intricate acoustical isolation from the city’s exterior and subterranean noise. The exterior is cloaked in large gunmetal gray metal panels, the exterior skin appears as a seamless opaque surface in contrast to the front façade’s glass curtainwall suspended from above.
The intimate darkness of the 299-seat proscenium theater sets a stark contrast to the soaring, naturally lit lobby. The finishes and furniture in the theater are all black with no visual distraction from the activity on stage. Theater seating brings the audience close to the performers and is reconfigurable for changing performances. The project is anticipating a high LEED-NC Silver, where a key aspect is the incorporation of industry-leading, energy-efficient LED lighting throughout, rare in a building of its type.