Construction has begun on a major redevelopment of the west side of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in Manhattan, where a new amphitheater and expanded public open space are set to reshape the campus edge along Amsterdam Avenue.

Expected to open in 2028, the project will introduce the 2,000-seat Baron Theater alongside the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Gardens, replacing the temporary infrastructure long used for performances at Damrosch Park. The design team includes Weiss/Manfredi, Hood Design Studio, and Moody Nolan.

Aerial view looking eastBrooklyn Digital Foundry

"The arts shape the character and vitality of cities, and we are committed to contributing to a more expansive and inclusive future for all New Yorkers," said Lincoln Center president and chief executive officer Mariko Silver in a press relase. "The west side of Lincoln Center's campus has, for too long, sent a message of exclusion—but today, we are proud to break ground on a project that will change that. No matter where you enter the campus, you will be greeted with the sense of open welcome and possibility that arts and culture should offer for all. The construction around us today is temporary. The invitation to join us here on this incredible campus is permanent."

Plans also include new plazas, shaded seating areas, expanded landscaping, wider sidewalks, and improved connections to surrounding neighborhoods. Lincoln Center says the redesign will increase the number of trees in the park by 50 percent while creating new year-round gathering spaces and upgraded facilities for free public performances.

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