Lincoln Center and the New York Philharmonic revealed Wednesday that the construction of David Geffen Hall will be completed two years ahead of schedule.
David Geffen Hall is a brand-new public performance space at Lincoln Center and is expected to host the likes of New York Philharmonic as well as a litany of other acts. The project is also being boasted as supporting some 6,000 jobs and $600 million in Economic Development for the City that is still recovering from the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ceremony began on March 9 in the Alice Tully Hall with the acknowledgment of the Ukraine crisis before turning to the announcement proper. Speakers rejoiced at the declaration that the project will not only be completed on budget but will also be finished in October of 2022, a full two years ahead of schedule.
Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams joined the announcement and gushed over the new concert hall that they cited as the cultural hub of the future.
“Lincoln Center is a central piece of New York’s cultural heart and the new David Geffen Hall, complete with expanded public and community spaces, will make that heartbeat even stronger,” Governor Hochul said. “I believe that there’s one major takeaway from this pandemic is that people miss that very human connection. that isolation, that sense of being alone was paralyzing for so many people, and this venue is going to be so open and welcoming.”
Mayor Adams also took to the stage and while doubling down on the Governor’s praise for the new hall, also spoke regarding his campaign promise–stopping crime. Adams concluded that no matter how grand David Geffen Hall will be, it will not receive visitors if they feel unsafe to make the trip.
“I understand that the foundation of our ability to recover as a country is to be safe. No one is going to come here as a tourist. No one’s going to come here and watch the various forms of entertainment if we don’t have a safe city. I’m committed to delivering that for you. That is my obligation to represent the prosperity I say over and over again is public safety and justice. We will have both,” Mayor Adams said.
The president and chief executive officer of the New York Philharmonic Deborah Borda lauded the new building for having acoustics unlike that of which can be found anywhere else in the city. In addition, new renderings were released Wednesday displaying public spaces designed by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects, as well as an animation of the new theater designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects.
