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.
Li · Saltzman Architects served as the Empire State Development Corporation’s representative for multiple projects on 42nd Street from 1995 to 2012. As the Owner’s Representative, Li · Saltzman monitored project schedules, quality standards, and compliance with preservation and RAMSA’s design guidelines. 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.
