Whitney Museum of American Art, Susan and John Hess Family Theater and Gallery
New York, New York, USA
Theatre Projects
The versatile venue features retractable seating, an adjustable acoustic ceiling, blackout curtains, retractable side wall acoustic banners, and all-LED performance lighting—making it one of the first all-LED museum-based theatres in America. The Whitney needed a space that had the flexibility to feature live music, lectures, theatrical performances, movie screenings, banquets, dinners, and mid-scale social events. We designed the Hess Theatre’s retractable seating, adjustable acoustic systems, and performance equipment to provide precisely that level of adaptability, all in an elegant package. We also designed and specified the LED performance lighting system in the Whitney’s multi-use film and video gallery.
Arnold Brower
owner:
Whitney Museum
architect:
Renzo Piano Building Workshop | Cooper, Robertson & Partners
acoustician:
Cerami & Associates
users:
Whitney Museum, corporate and private events, local and regional arts groups
spaces:
- 171-seat flexible theatre
construction type:
New construction
theatre type:
Auditorium design/seating, Concept design, Film & media, Flexible & studio theatres, Gallery/library/museum, Program development
services:
Programming, concept design, theatre planning, and theatre equipment design and specification
completion:
2015
Arnold Brower
Timothy Schenck
Simon Leung, courtesy of Ovando
