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History of Lincoln Center: Today

  • January 1, 2001
    Gordon Davis is named the seventh President of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Inc. He serves in this position until September 27, 2001.
  • January 18, 2001
    The Lincoln Center Constituent Development Project is established to implement and oversee the comprehensive reconstruction, renovation, and modernization of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
  • May 1, 2002
    Reynold Levy begins as President of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Inc. He is elected by the Board of Directors on February 28, 2002, but does not formally assume the post until May 1, 2002.
  • August 1, 2002
    Bruce Crawford, former president and general manager of the Metropolitan Opera, is elected Chairman of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Inc. He serves in this position until June 2005.
  • February 24, 2003
    Diller and Scofidio, in association with FXFOWLE Architects, Cooper Robertson and Partners as planners, L'Observatoire as lighting designers, Olin Partnership as landscape architects and 2x4 as graphic designers, are selected to redesign Lincoln Center's 65th Street and some portions of the Juilliard School.
  • April 13, 2004
    Lincoln Center launches a new capital campaign titled “Bravo Lincoln Center.”
  • October 18, 2004
    Jazz at Lincoln Center opens Frederick P. Rose Hall. The hall contains three theaters — the Rose Theater, the Allen Room and Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola. The architect is the firm of Rafael Vinoly Architects.
  • June 2005
    Frank A. Bennack Jr. is elected Chairman of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Inc.
  • January 18, 2006
    Katharine G. Farley agrees to serve as Chairman of the Lincoln Center Development Project.
  • March 20, 2006
    Construction begins on the Transformation of West 65th Street Project. It is designed to improve pedestrian and traffic safety, open West 65th Street to light and air, improve information and signage and expand The Juilliard School, the Film Society, Alice Tully Hall and the School of American Ballet. The architects are Diller Scofidio + Renfro/FXFOWLE Architects.
  • March 20, 2006
    Lincoln Center announces the Promenade Project, a plan to renovate Josie Robertson Plaza and the Columbus Avenue frontage to the Lincoln Center campus. The architects are Diller Scofidio + Renfro/Beyer Blinder Belle.
  • June 8, 2006
    Lincoln Center announces plans to transform the Harmony Atrium, a privately owned indoor public space, into an information center and visitor services hub for the Lincoln Center campus as well as for cultural and civic organizations in the surrounding neighborhood. The architects are Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects.
  • July 26, 2006
    Lincoln Center and John Wiley & Sons, Inc. announce a multi-year partnership to publish a co-branded series of fifteen books on the performing arts.
  • August 2006
    The Milstein Bridge is demolished as part of the Transformation of West 65th Street Project.
  • January 23, 2007
    The Lincoln Kirstein Wing of the School of American Ballet in the Rose Building is dedicated. Designed by Elizabeth Diller of Diller Scofidio+Renfro, it created four dance studios out of two existing studios. It is the first section of the Transformation of West 65th Street Project to be completed.
  • April 30, 2007
    Alice Tully Hall closes for renovation of its lobbies, auditorium and backstage areas. The architects for the renovation are Diller Scofidio + Renfro in association with FXFOWLE Architects.
  • February 22, 2009
    Alice Tully Hall re-opens with a two-week Alice Tully Hall Opening Nights Festival celebration featuring ten premieres, 19 events, and a musical range that spans the Renaissance to the 21st century.
  • October 1, 2009
    Lincoln Center's updated Revson Fountain opens with new technologies that include options for special-effect lighting and dazzling water shows, and a new base that gives the appearance of a floating granite ring around a shallow pool of water at plaza level.
  • December 17, 2009
    The David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center, a new public visitors and disount ticketing facility home to an array of programs, services, and amenties, opens to the public.
  • May 21, 2010
    Three Lincoln Center redevelopment projects officially open to the public: The Charles B. Benenson Grove, a new green space at Columbus Avenue and 62nd St; the weatherproof Roslyn and Elliot Jaffe Family Drive and Bruce and Robbi Toll Porte-cochere drop-off roadway beneath the Grand Stair on Columbus Avenue; and the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Lawn,  a 7,203 square foot public green overlooking the Paul Milstein Pool and Terrace.
  • June 7, 2010
    Katherine G. Farley is elected Chair of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
  • June 17, 2011 
    The Film Society of Lincoln Center's Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center opens to the public.
  • June 4, 2012
    The Claire Tow Theater opened with the first performance of Slowgirl.
  • October 1, 2012
    The President’s Bridge opens, completing Lincoln Center’s $1.2 billion redevelopment project.
  • October 4, 2012
    Green Mountain Energy Company announces that Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts will become the first performing arts center in New York City to be powered by 100% wind energy. The wind energy to support Lincoln Center will be purchased by Green Mountain in the form of renewable energy certificates (RECs).
  • November 2012
    Tony and Grammy-award winner Audra McDonald is named new host of Live From Lincoln Center
  • May 15, 2013
    Jed Bernstein is named the next president of Lincoln Center, to start his new post in January 2014.
  • August 2, 2013
    Patron Gail Donovan becomes the David Rubinstein Atrium's one millionth visitor and is greeted, to her surprise, by President Reynold Levy and pianist Emanuel Ax with a box of prizes.
  • October 8, 2013
    Lincoln Center Institute is rebranded and launched as Lincoln Center Education, reflecting the needs of 21st century learners through the arts.
  • September 26, 2014
    Live From Lincoln Center's 40th anniversary season begins with Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street In Concert With the New York Philharmonic, starring Emma Thompson as Stephen Sondheim's conniving piemaker and Bryn Terfel as the barber.
  • October 3 through December 1, 2014
    Lincoln Center, in association with Public Art Fund, presents a new digital commission, Solar Reserve (Tonopah, Nevada) 2014, by Irish artist John Gerrard. The digital simulation displayed on a 28 by 24 foot frameless LED wall on Josie Robertson Plaza re-creates a Nevada solar thermal power plant and surrounding desert landscape in a compelling virtual world that changes in real time throughout the day.
  • October 9, 2014
    36 solar panels are installed on the roof of Lincoln Center's Rose Building as a part of the organization's initiative to go green.
  • November 13, 2014
    Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and the family of Avery Fisher announce landmark agreement to enable renaming of Avery Fisher Hall and a new Lincoln Center Hall of Fame, celebrating artists and others who have defined excellence at Lincoln Center. New hall include classical music wing named for the renowned arts philanthropist, Avery Fisher.
  • March 4, 2015
    Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts announces a $100 million gift from music and media executive and philanthropist David Geffen for LCPA to lead the complete transformation of its largest concert hall. The comprehensive renovation and reimagination of the concert hall will be undertaken in close collaboration between Lincoln Center and the New York Philharmonic. The project is on track to begin construction in 2019 at an expected cost of approximately $500 million.
  • April 14, 2015
    Lincoln Center in a partnership with Fathom Events announce a new cinema series, Lincoln Center at the Movies: Great American Dance.
  • June 8, 2015
    Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts announce Vin Cipolla is appointed Executive Director of the David Geffen Hall Campaign. Cipolla will lead Lincoln Center Inc.'s portion of the effort to rebuild David Geffen Hall.
  • July 7, 2015
    Lincoln Center in partnership with Fathom Events announce Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ballet Hispanico, New York City Ballet, and San Francisco Ballet as the four companies participating in Lincoln Center at the Movies: Great American Dance. The presentations are taped in HD by the multi-Emmy Award-winning team responsible for Live From Lincoln Center broadcasts on PBS, Andrew C. Wilk, Executive Producer.
  • August 13, 2015
    Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts announces the inaugural Lincoln Center Global Exchange, a first-of-its-kind convening that will bring together 200 international thought leaders and change agents from business, government, education, media, science and the arts at the Lincoln Center campus on September 18 to explore how art and culture can become even more effective in fostering healthy citizens, vibrant cities, and strong communities. The Global Exchange is the centerpiece of a broader effort focused on advancing the relevance and centrality of art, across sectors and geographies, and inspiring investment in culture worldwide.
  • September 24, 2015
    A ceremony in honor of David Geffen's $100 million donation and the renaming and inauguration of David Geffen Hall is held on Josie Robertson Plaza. Participating in the renaming ceremony are David Geffen, Guest of Honor; Katherine Farley, Chair of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts; Jed Bernstein, President of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts; Oscar Schafer, Chairman of the Board of the New York Philharmonic; and Emanuel Ax, American pianist.