A famed performing arts center gets its first facelift in 25 years

The open-air Delacorte Theater in New York City’s Central Park, which since 1962 has been presenting free Shakespeare in the Park and other classical plays, has been undergoing a complete renovation—its first major capital improvement since 1999—that is upgrading the entire complex, with a concentration on accessibility, aesthetics, comfort, and water mitigation.

The Public Theater, Delacorte’s operator and programmer, is executing this 18-month $78 million renovation, which began a year ago, in partnership with the Central Park Conservancy and the New York City Parks Department. It’s scheduled for completion next summer, and its first post-reno production will be Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.

Last week, BD+C toured the jobsite with representatives of The Public Theater and Ennead Architects, the project’s design architect. They recounted how plans for this renovation had been in the works since 2018. Getting those plans to the construction phase required approvals from five community boards and the city’s Landmark Preservation Commission. The Mayor’s Office ultimately kicked in $41 million toward the project’s renovation costs.

A ‘brownstone’-like renovation

The project’s mission is to enhance what was there already. Virtually everything but the theater’s exterior steel framing was stripped away, and is being replaced, upgraded and, in some cases, expanded. The construction includes a secondary steel structure that tilts out so that an extra seating row could be added within the theater for patrons with accessibility needs. That steel structure will be covered with a redwood façade, salvaged from decommissioned water towers and supplied by Brooklyn-based Tri-Lox, with each tongue-and-groove piece installed individually.

A lot of attention has been paid to improving and streamlining the backstage working environment for the actors and crew. HVAC and water systems are being expanded and brought up to code. The understage area is steel reinforced and enlarged for better maneuverability. The five dressing rooms are being reframed and made more accessible; three of them will have gender-neutral bathrooms.

Apparently, the Delacorte leaked like a sieve when it rained, so the renovation has focused on minimizing water intrusion via the installation of insulation and corrugated steel beneath the grandstands and in the dressing rooms. The improvements include new sprinkler and fire alarm systems.

(A joint venture between Turner Construction and York Construction is this project’s GC. Silman Structural Solutions is the SE, and Loring Consulting Engineers is the MEP engineer.)

Reno part of a bigger campaign

The Delacorte seats 1,871, and that capacity isn’t changing. However, within the performance area, the the aisles have been reconfigured to be more accessible. (About 30 seats will be available specifically for handicapped patrons.) The wood decking within the seating area and the stage is being replaced with a more durable material supplied by Kebony North America. The control tower is being rebuilt to include an elevator. Newly designed lighting towers will provide improved illumination for the stage and performances, and will include safety features for crew members and increase efficiency for load-in and load-out of shows.

Audience and backstage ramps are being built on one side of the seating area.

The Public Theater will have offices onsite at the Delacorte, whose renovation is a component of the Public’s $150 million capital campaign that also will support the organization’s other free theater initiatives, including The Mobile Unit and Public Works; the recently renovated Public Studios at 440 Lafayette Street; and capital upgrades to The Public’s headquarters at 425 Lafayette Street. The campaign includes The Fund for Free Theater, which supports the Public’s Shakespeare in the Park productions.