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Rockefeller Center, NYC's Art Deco Jewel, May Get A Facelift
By
Elizabeth Kim
Published Jan 14, 2020
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Gabellini Sheppard Associates, LLC
By
Elizabeth Kim
Published Jan 14, 2020
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Few complexes in New York City conjure the soul of Midtown like Rockefeller Center. Originally built as series of 14 Art Deco buildings beginning in 1933, the massive 22-acre site—which includes the eight-ton bronze sculpture of Prometheus overlooking the famed skating rink and Radio City Music Hall—has long been seen as a symbol of not only New York's commercial and tourist hub but of the city itself.
Given its iconic status, any proposed changes to the historic property is likely to garner attention if not grave concern from some purists. So it came as a bit of surprise to some that owner Tishman Speyer unveiled a plan on Tuesday to renovate several portions of the outdoor plaza spaces, including fountains, stairs, monuments, and the concourse-level storefronts.
"We’re just wrapping our heads around it," said a slightly out-of-breath Michael Gotkin, a historian and landscape architect, who called Gothamist this morning as he was making his way to check out the presentation at a public hearing before the Landmarks Preservation Commission.
He added: "I was pretty shocked."
Rockefeller Center was officially designated as a city landmark in 1985, which means that any alterations must be approved by the landmarks commission.
While the verdict from the entire preservation community is not in yet, Simeon Bankoff, the executive director of the Historic Districts Council (HDC), reviewed the proposals on Friday and said he and members of his organization came away with a largely positive impression.
In a statement provided to Landmarks on Tuesday, the HDC said, "The proposed changes are well thought out and demonstrate a clear connection with the plaza’s historic design, while simultaneously able to function in our current day."
Their only criticism was that of a plan to replace the plaza's bronze-caged elevators, which were installed in the mid-1980s and take visitors down to restaurants in the lower plaza, with a contemporary glassy version that would also serve as an art display.
"As this plaza is a period piece of High Art Deco, HDC found the proposed elevator’s contemporary design tone discordant with the rest of the plaza," HDC said. "Further, while the art panel is successful in a vast, open plaza in Chicago, displaying art on the elevator shaft in Rockefeller Center reads as clutter. This plaza is not an open, stark expanse like the example provided—it is full of plantings, water features, flags, statuary, and grade changes. As such, the elevator shaft should be simplified and without art."
Similarly, the Landmarks Conservancy also expressed overall support for the project, saying that it was overall in keeping with the "subdued, uniform palette and elegant symmetry," but the group also had reservations about the digital-screened elevator, objecting to its use for art installations or advertising.
"The great strength of Rockefeller Center is its urbane and harmonious sense of place; the proposed LED scheme would almost certainly diminish this quality," the statement read.
Gabellini Sheppard Associates, LLP
We reached out to a representative from Tishman Speyer who said more renderings will be released soon. In the meantime, above is a rendering of the proposed elevator.
UPDATE: The story has been updated to include a formal statement from Landmarks Conservancy.
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rockefeller center
Elizabeth Kim
Elizabeth Kim is a reporter on the People and Power desk who covers mayoral power. She previously covered the pandemic, housing, redevelopment and public spaces. A native of Queens, she speaks fluent Mandarin. Got a tip? Email [email protected]
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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