42nd Street Development Project
New York, NY
In the 1990s, New York City and State joined forces to redevelop Times Square through the revitalization of 42nd Street’s historic theaters. The mission was to restore seven theaters as places of popular art and entertainment, and to reanimate the street.
Since 1995, LSA has served as Owner’s Representative/Preservation Consultant for the 42nd Street Development Project (42DP), initially to New York State (Empire State Development Corporation; 1995-2011), and currently to the New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC). As the Owner’s Representative, LSA’s responsibilities include review of design and construction documents, site logistics in relation to historic properties, protection programs, restoration programs, lighting and signage designs, cyclical maintenance plans, and on-site review of work performed. Projects included restoring the Victory theater to create a non-profit theater for young audiences; combining the Lyric and Apollo Theaters to create a new 1800 seat theater; relocating the Empire Theater to serve as the entry to multiplex cinemas; inserting a restaurant into the Liberty Theater; monitoring the protection and maintenance programs for the New Amsterdam Theater; and stabilizing the historic features of the Times Square Theater. These historic theaters form the nucleus of a new entertainment district on 42nd Street.
