Lincoln Center LCT3 Claire Tow Theater

A New Theater Above an Existing Landmark

The Claire Tow Theater is the centerpiece of a two-story, 23,000-square-foot addition constructed on the roof of Eero Saarinen’s 1962 Vivian Beaumont Theater at Lincoln Center. Designed by H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture and completed in 2012, the addition provides a dedicated performance venue and supporting spaces for Lincoln Center Theater’s LCT3 program.

Building Without Loading the Existing Roof

The existing roof framing did not have sufficient capacity to support the new theater facility. A two-way system of steel trusses therefore spans between four existing columns capable of carrying the additional loads. The trusses support the rooftop addition while bypassing most of the Vivian Beaumont Theater’s original roof framing.

Concentrating the New Loads

The long-span framing collects gravity loads from the theater, public areas, and supporting spaces and directs them to the four existing columns. This concentrated load path allowed the new facility to remain structurally independent of most of the structure below.

An Independent Elevator Core

A separate steel-framed elevator core provides access to the rooftop venue. The core passes through the existing theater and extends to bedrock, allowing its loads to be carried independently rather than imposed on the original structure.

Preserving the Existing Theater

The truss system and independent core made it possible to construct a complete theater facility above the Beaumont while limiting alterations to the landmark building. The structural approach also preserved the operation and architectural character of the existing performance spaces below.