Project's beginnings in the key recommendations of our 2004 study.
May 15, 2008
(New York, N.Y.) — On Monday, May 12, the Orchestra of St. Luke's (OSL) announced its intention to buy property on West 37th Street to develop and operate the DiMenna Center for Classical Music. The 20,000 square foot center will house a large rehearsal/recording hall, other rehearsal and musicians' support spaces, and administrative offices suitable for orchestras and choral groups.
Monday's New York Times featured an article about the proposed music center. The same day, at OSL's announcement event, the leadership role that NYC Performing Arts Spaces played at the earliest stage of the project's development was acknowledged by Marianne Lockwood, CEO of OSL and Kate Levin, Commissioner of the City's Department of Cultural Affairs.
In 2004, Exploring the Metropolis (as we were known then) conducted a feasibility study among New York's freelance orchestras — of which Orchestra of St. Luke's is the largest — focusing on the persistent problem of the lack of suitable, affordable rehearsal space. Based on our findings, we issued a report recommending the construction of a dedicated orchestra-based rehearsal center in Manhattan. Our study was funded by the Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust, the Fan Fox & Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, and the Robert Sterling Clark Foundation.
Working with the orchestras and with architect Hugh Hardy — who was ultimately chosen as the architect for the DiMenna Center — we developed plans and estimated costs for a multi-studio complex to serve the music community.
We applaud Orchestra of St. Luke's for taking this first step in the development of this much-needed facility. It will greatly help to lessen the workspace problems faced by music groups of all sizes and genres.
More information on our orchestra rehearsal center feasibility study, and our most recent study, "Where Can We Work?", may be found at nycPASpaces.org.
Read the NYT article about the proposed music center.
For more information, contact David Johnston at davidj@nycPASpaces.org or call at (212) 886-2503.
Exploring the Metropolis' 2004 feasibility study was generously funded by the Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust, Robert Sterling Clark Foundation, and Fan Fox & Leslie R. Samuels Foundation.