Home to the New York Philharmonic, the concert hall was overdue for a renovation to fix long-standing acoustical issues. To mitigate unknown conditions that could complicate construction, the project team laser-scanned the entire facility to create a BIM to develop as-built drawings with precise structural system locations to ensure correct installation of infrastructure. Originally slated to be implemented in three phases, the project was resequenced into a single-phase effort in order to mitigate lingering pandemic-related labor and supply issues and to have everything in place for the renovation’s debut performance in October 2022. Daily huddles with engineers, supervisors and trades mitigated the risk of any missed details to ensure all parties were on the same page as work progressed.

The project transformed what was once a cavernous rectilinear shoebox-shaped concert hall into a curvilinear, unified room with flawless acoustics and optimized sight lines that foster an intimate connection between audience and performers. The project team exceeded its inclusion benchmarks, achieving 42% construction participation by minority- and women-owned businesses and 52% of the workforce from underrepresented communities. In addition, a comprehensive workforce development program provided valuable training to nearly three dozen new workers from disadvantaged neighborhoods, helping create career opportunities and diversify the region’s construction community.