The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission is set to review a proposal for the renovation and expansion of the Imperial Theatre, a 101-year-old Broadway theater at 249 West 45th Street in Midtown, Manhattan. Designed by Kostow Greenwood Architects for the Schubert Organization, the project is planned to include the overhaul and expansion of the lobby building, historical restoration of the auditorium interiors, and upgrades to the facility’s mechanical systems. The property is located between Seventh and Eighth Avenues.
If approved, the work will significantly alter the lobby building along West 45th Street, a narrow three-story structure that leads to the main theater on West 46th Street. The building’s footprint would be more than tripled via a site annex to the west, and two new floors with commercial space will be added. The revamped structure’s façade will incorporate expansive floor-to-ceiling windows, a new marquee and video signage, and a new blade sign. The expanded building will also feature an event space and a rooftop terrace.
Rendering of proposed changes to 249 West 45th Street, via LPC proposal
Diagram of proposed changes to 249 West 45th Street, via LPC proposal
The auditorium’s interiors will also be heavily renovated, with work including decorative bas-relief plaster restoration, decorative painting, replacement of the seating and carpeting, and modifications to the ceiling lighting to match the historical ornamentation. The changes will also aim to improve the venue’s accessibility with the addition of balcony wheelchair access and the reduction of circulation bottlenecks.
Photograph of existing conditions inside 249 West 45th Street, via LPC proposal
Photograph of existing conditions inside 249 West 45th Street, via LPC proposal
The Imperial Theatre was originally designed by architect Herbert J. Krapp and completed construction in 1923. Its auditorium interiors were designated a New York City landmark in 1987.
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Back in the early 1970s, I took a tour of a few then recently built theaters and the oldest in NYC. These were led by architects and were quite informative. What was then known as the Miskoff was described as not having been worth it financially due to the onerous regulations and need for trusses. Generally, old theaters are kept as they are grandfathered, unlike new construction. It seems every element in a theater auditorium is dictated by some law. This, of course, is for good reason.
one would hope that the ultimate design might be more sensitive to the refined classicism of the theater; a little less suburban movie theater…..
First impression is ick, followed by no way the LPC signs off on that.
Ick is right. Looks like they’re going to demo the lobby building rather than expand it. Sadly, I think it’ll be approved. The LPC
is a shadow of what it could and used to be.
Already the front looks like a mall entrance