Under the auspices of John D. Rockefeller III, construction of the famed performing arts campus at Lincoln Center began in the late 1950s. Since that time, the Center has expanded to include a collection of buildings by some of the most celebrated architects of the time, and it is home to New York’s major cultural institutions, including the Metropolitan Opera, the New York City Ballet, the New York Philharmonic, and the Juilliard School. Since 1987, Hoffmann Architects has provided investigation and design services for a number of buildings at Lincoln Center, the largest presenter of performing arts in the world.

Metropolitan Opera House
Roof Replacement
Designed by Wallace K. Harrison and completed in 1966, the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center replaced the opera house at 39th Street and Broadway as the home of the Metropolitan Opera Company. The white travertine building, with its distinctive archways at the east facade, is one of the premier opera stages in the world. In the late 1980s, Hoffmann Architects was retained to design and direct construction of a complete roof replacement on this unique structure. Above the famous gold-leaf ceiling and chandeliers, Hoffmann Architects replaced existing roofing, including related flashings, insulation, ballast, and sheet metal. Twenty-five years later, when the roof reached the end of its service life, the Metropolitan Opera retained Hoffmann Architects to design and administer a second roof replacement program. Rather than replace in kind, Hoffmann Architects developed a new roof design to reflect current codes, standards, and product technology as they evolved since the previous roof replacement. Both reroofing projects were completed at the least possible inconvenience to the opera-going public.

Avery Fisher Hall
Facade Survey and Roof Restoration
Home of the New York Philharmonic, Avery Fisher Hall was designed by Max Abramovitz and completed in 1962. Like the Metropolitan Opera House, Avery Fisher Hall is clad in white travertine. Hoffmann Architects conducted a facade survey to evaluate the condition of the travertine and provided rehabilitative design services for waterproofing and roof restoration.

Vivian Beaumont Theater
Roof Replacement
Bearing the singular distinction of being the only Broadway-class theater in New York City outside the Theater District, the Beaumont Theater was designed by Eero Saarinen and opened in 1965. Hoffmann Architects provided a roof condition survey and designed roof replacements for areas above the stage house, library, and plaza mezzanine.

Samuel B. & David Rose Building
Facade Investigation and Repair
One of the newer additions to Lincoln Center, the Rose Building was completed in 1990. The postmodern curtain wall structure was designed by Davis, Brody and Associates. Sheathed in Minnesota limestone, the Rose Building comprises a residence hall tower for students of the Juilliard School, two theaters, a library, student center and dining hall, rehearsal studios, offices, and a 45-story apartment tower. Hoffmann Architects provided investigation, report filing, and repair design, including stone restoration, face-pinning, and crack repair.

From the opening of Avery Fisher Hall in 1962, Lincoln Center has amassed a collection of architecture no less impressive than the cultural institutions residing within, In what was once a blighted section of Manhattan, a program of urban renewal made Lincoln Center one of the most prestigious cultural centers in the world, with buildings that represent the work of mid-century masters at the peak of their careers.